A convicted rapist who fights for staying in parliament in Australia

The Australian politician, convicted of rape, fights – from his prison – to remain a member of the State Parliament of the New South Wales.

Last month, Gareth Ward Ward was found guilty of a sexual attack on two young people, aged 18 and 24, in his home from 2013 to 2015, and is now in custody before the sentence.

This week, the NSW State Parliament planned to expel a 44-year-old teenager after he refused to retire after the perpetrator.

However, Ward’s lawyers – who plan to appeal their conviction – say they will seek a ban on the Supreme Court hearings on Thursday to stop an independent member for the cane.

“He’s not ashamed,” said NSW Prime Minister Chris Mins on a local radio station on Tuesday.

He repeated urged Ward retired from the State Parliament, saying it was “the first and most obvious choice”.

“This is a foolish situation that a person who is currently in prison in Silvervoter, is convicted of serious sex crimes that requires a parliamentary deputy and continues to pay,” the Minsk said.

Opposition leader Mark Specman joined Ward’s calls to retreat.

“Every day he clings to his place from prison, taxpayers make a bill, and the residents of Kiam are left without voting. It’s not just wrong, it is offensive,” said the leader of the Liberalov NSW – a party that was previously involved, “said.

In a statement after his condemnation, but before his violation was abolished, Ward said he was “absolutely destroyed” by the jury and spending time with his family.

“I take advice on the next steps, but I can confirm that I gave the instructions to my legal team on preparation at the first opportunity,” the statement reads.

Ward resigned as a state minister and a liberal party when the allegations appeared in 2021 but refused to leave the parliament and were re -elected as a member of Kiama in 2023.

Earlier, the NSW government was considered a vote for Ward’s expulsion – which was a state deputy since 2011 – but legal advice stated that it could risk the prejudice of his trial.

If Ward is expelled from the parliament, it would cause elections in the southern coast of KIAM with a possible vote within weeks.

Ward must be condemned next month, three articles of an obscene attack and one gap of rape.