Australia

Australia: NSW Lawmaker Gareth Ward Found Guilty of Rape

Published JUL 25 2025

Story

Above: Gareth Ward. Image credit: YouTube/The Project via Independent

The Facts

Gareth Ward, a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly and former minister, was on Friday found guilty on three counts of indecent assault and one count of rape involving two young men.
News.com.au
BBC News
Ward has been convicted of sexually assaulting a teenager after plying him with alcohol at his NSW South Coast home in 2013, as well as having intercourse without consent with a 24-year-old at his Potts Point apartment in 2015.
The Sydney Morning Herald
Guardian
Ward, 44, served as NSW Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services from 2019 until resigning from the Liberal Party in 2021 when police investigations became public. He later won re-election as an independent in 2023.
ABC
Sky News Australia
Crown prosecutor Monika Knowles argued that similarities between the two complainants' accounts, who did not know each other, demonstrated Ward's pattern of targeting emotionally vulnerable young men after plying them with alcohol.
9News
Daily Mail
The NSW government called for Ward's immediate resignation following the verdict, stating that his position in parliament was "no longer tenable" and threatening to "take steps to protect the legislative assembly's integrity" if he refuses.
The Canberra Times
ABC
Ward was released on conditional bail with amended conditions including daily police reporting, passport surrender, and residence restrictions. A detention application hearing is scheduled for next Wednesday, and sentencing is to occur later this year.
ABC
News.com.au

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

Ward's crimes raise questions that demand answers. Given that these offences date back to 2013 and 2015, the NSW Liberal Party must be held accountable for allowing him to retain his ministerial position, which is responsible for overseeing the state's most vulnerable children.

Narrative B

Ward's heinous crimes against young men were abhorrent, without excuse, and an outright abuse of his power and position. Consequently, and in light of his conviction, Ward must immediately resign from his position, as his presence in parliament undermines the integrity of the legislative assembly.