A political staffer testified in a Sydney court that he embellished a positive email he sent to a state MP who is accused of sexually assaulting him several years prior.
The Kiama MP, Gareth Ward, 44, is on trial in the New South Wales District Court, where he has pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual intercourse without consent and indecent assault.
According to the prosecution, following a midweek event at NSW Parliament House in 2015, Ward offered the then 24-year-old staffer, now in his 30s, a place to stay for the night. The man alleges that despite repeatedly saying no, Ward climbed into bed with him, groped his backside, and sexually assaulted him.
During the third day of cross-examination, the alleged victim acknowledged that he had sent Ward an email in March 2019 to congratulate him on his appointment as Minister for Families. In the email, the man expressed high regard for Ward’s friendship and made claims that his professional esteem for Ward was unaffected by the alleged assault.
The alleged victim stated that, at the time of writing the email, he was concerned about his career prospects and felt that exaggerating his appreciation for Ward’s friendship might aid his chances of securing a job in politics. He insisted that this did not conflict with his assertion that Ward had sexually assaulted him.
He confirmed that he had not previously disclosed the alleged sexual assault because it was “incredibly embarrassing” and not something he would discuss in conversation.
Moving forward, the jury was informed about another accusation of indecent assault Ward faces, involving an intoxicated 18-year-old in 2013 at Ward’s residence following a chance meeting at a networking event the previous year. The man reported that Ward had performed an unwanted back massage and fondled his buttocks and scrotum despite his efforts to stop it.
Ward, who has been representing the Kiama seat since 2011, as a Liberal member before running as an independent in 2023, vehemently denies the allegations against him. The trial is scheduled to last four weeks.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jun/03/gareth-ward-nsw-mp-kiama-trial-alleged-sexual-assault-victim-ntwnfb
