NSW state MP Gareth Ward has successfully delayed his expulsion from the NSW parliament with last-minute legal action.
The Legislative Assembly was to hear a motion to expel the Kiama MP, with a vote scheduled for tomorrow.
“The people of Kiama, for example, could be represented by somebody in custody right up until the next election,” Hoenig said.
But parliament can also expel an MP for unworthy conduct, which it is seeking to do.
“We’re not doing this as punishment, we’re doing it to protect the integrity of the legislative assembly,” Minns said.
The state opposition is supporting the government in its fight to expel Ward.
Opposition Leader Mark Speakman stated, “He should step down and act honorably towards his constituents, and if he refuses, he must be expelled to maintain the integrity of the parliament.”
In July, Ward was convicted of one charge of non-consensual sexual intercourse and three charges of indecent assault, involving incidents with two young men in 2013 and 2015.
He has yet to be sentenced and still has time to lodge an appeal of his convictions.
He has held the Kiama electorate since 2011, winning three elections under the Liberal banner before securing the 2023 poll as an independent.
