A convicted rapist fighting to stay in Parliament in Australia

An Australian politician found guilty of rape is fighting – from his prison unit – to remain a member of the Parliament of the state of South Wales (NSW).

Gareth Ward was convicted last month of having sexually assaulted two young men, aged 18 and 24, at his home between 2013 and 2015, and is now awaiting conviction.

The Parliament of the State of the NSW had planned to expel the 44 -year -old man this week after refusing to resign after the guilt verdict.

However, Ward’s lawyers – who plan to appeal his conviction – say they will ask an injunction, during a supreme court hearing on Thursday, to prevent the independent deputy from Kiama from getting out.

“He is not ashamed,” the Prime Minister of NSW Chris Minns said on Tuesday.

He repeated the calls to Ward to resign from the State Parliament, saying that it is the “first most obvious choice”.

“It is an unreasonable situation to have someone who is currently in prison in Silverwater, found guilty of serious sexual offenses, who asks to remain a member of the Parliament and continue to be paid,” said Minns.

Opposition chief Mark Speakman joined Ward calls to withdraw.

“Each day, he hangs on his headquarters from a prison cell, taxpayers are preparing for the bill and the inhabitants of Kiama are speechless. It is not only false, it is offensive,” said the chief of the Southern Wales Liberals – a party whose neighborhood was once – said.

In a statement after his conviction, but before his surety was revoked, Ward said he was “absolutely broken” by the jury’s verdict and spent time with his family.

“I take advice on the next steps, but I can confirm that I provided instructions to my legal team to prepare a call in the first opportunity,” the statement said.

Ward resigned from his post as Minister of the Government of the State and the Liberal Party when the charges emerged in 2021, but refused to leave Parliament and were re -elected as a member of Kiama in 2023.

The Southern Wales Government had previously planned to vote to expel Ward – who has been a state deputy since 2011 – but the legal advice has said that this could risk prejudging its trial.

If Ward is expelled from the Parliament, it would trigger a by -election in the city of the southern coast of Kiama, with a possible vote in a few weeks.

Ward is expected to be sentenced next month, for three indecent assault leaders and a rape chief.