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A police spokesperson confirmed the Kiama MP had been charged with sexual offences and granted conditional bail.
NSW Police began investigating alleged sexual violence-related offences in May last year.
The 40-year-old attended Oak Flats Police Station about midday today.
He has since been charged with three counts of assault with an act of indecency and one count each of sexual intercourse without consent and common assault.
Police will allege Mr Ward indecently assaulted a 17-year-old boy at Meroo Meadow in February 2013 and sexually abused a 27-year-old man in Sydney in September 2015.
He is due to appear at Port Kembla Local Court in May.
Mr Ward today said he would defend the charges.
“I am innocent and I intend to prove it,” he wrote in a statement.
“I have instructed my lawyers to use every available procedural avenue to bring this matter to trial as quickly as possible.
“There is much more I would like to say but on the strict advice of my lawyers and out of respect for our system of justice, I will not be making any further comment at this time.”
Mr Ward identified himself as the MP under investigation by police over sexual violence allegations last May.
He resigned from the government and his Families, Communities and Disability Services portfolio to move to the crossbench.
Mr Ward said in a statement at the time that he had not been contacted by police and denied any wrongdoing.
This afternoon Premier Dominic Perrottet said Mr Ward would be asked to resign from NSW Parliament and should he refuse, a motion would be moved to remove him.
“Mr Ward is entitled to defend himself against the serious charges against him but he must do that as a private citizen,” Mr Perrottet said.
Source: 9News
