00:00I'm here at the CBD of Kiama just hours after Gareth Ward quit from his position as the electorate's
00:08state MP. He went to the Supreme Court this week trying to block Parliament's move to expel him
00:14following conviction for sexual crimes. Parliament's vote was scheduled for this morning but at the
00:2011th hour Ward issued his resignation effective immediately. Speaking to some locals here this
00:26morning they say it was a move that should have happened a long time ago. I say I think it was overdue. I think he should have resigned originally. I'm disgusted. Gareth Ward was sitting in jail while he was being paid our money $5,000 a week. As soon as he was found guilty he should have been sacked. He should have been evicted from that office immediately.
00:55Even though the court have imposed costs on him it's tied up three judges, numerous legal teams, Crown Solicitor's Office so it's a real shame that it's come to this but we've got to move on. We've got an election coming up and I just hope we get some fantastic candidates.
01:11Gareth Ward has represented the seat of Kiama south of Wollongong since 2011 first as a Liberal MP and then an Independent.
01:19He was suspended from State Parliament in March 2022 until the end of that term in March 2023 after being charged with sexual intercourse without consent and three counts of indecent assault against two men.
01:32He was found guilty by a jury last month following a nine-week trial in the district court. Ward's defence team has confirmed they will appeal the jury's decision but despite calls from several politicians to stand down, basically saying it was wrong for a state member to represent a community behind bars, Ward refused to resign.
01:52His last minute decision today means that his former constituents will be heading back to the polls sometime soon. For some locals they have welcomed the decision and say it's time to move on from recent headlines and representation.
02:04I think he was holding on to hope himself. Hoping that it would all just fade away but it didn't and yeah and when you haven't got the community's trust you may as well step down.
02:17The NSW Premier Chris Minns has today said that the process to establish a by-election could be initiated by the Speaker of the House as early as next week. It's unclear yet who will stand for that role. Meanwhile Ward will be sentenced next month.
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