Brazil orders ex-president Bolsonaro under house arrest
The case has gripped the South American country as it faces a trade war with the Trump administration.
The trial is receiving renewed attention after US President Donald Trump directly tied a 50 per cent tariff on imported Brazilian goods to the judicial situation of Bolsonaro, a Trump ally. The US leader has called the proceedings a "witch hunt".
Prosecutors accuse Bolsonaro of heading a criminal organisation that plotted to overturn the election, including plans to kill President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and a Supreme Court justice, Alexandre de Moraes.
Monday's order followed one from the top court in July that ordered Bolsonaro wear an electronic ankle monitor and imposed a curfew on his activities while the proceedings are under way.
Justice Moraes, who oversees the case against Bolsonaro in the court, issued the order, saying in his decision that the 70-year-old far-right leader had violated the precautionary measures imposed on him by posting content on the social media channels of his three lawmaker sons.
Moraes added that Bolsonaro, who governed Brazil between 2019 and 2022, has spread messages with "a clear content of encouragement and instigation to attacks against the Supreme Court and a blatant support for foreign intervention in the Brazilian Judiciary".
Tens of thousands of Bolsonaro supporters took the streets in the cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, pleading for Brazil's congress to pardon him and hundreds of others who are under trial for their roles in the destruction of government buildings in capital Brasilia on January 8, 2023.
The latest decision from the top court keeps Boslonaro under ankle monitoring, allows only family members and lawyers to visit him and seizes all mobile phones from his home.
Brazil's Supreme Court has ordered the house arrest for the country's former president Jair Bolsonaro, on trial for allegedly masterminding a coup plot to remain in office despite his defeat in the 2022 election.
The case has gripped the South American country as it faces a trade war with the Trump administration.
The trial is receiving renewed attention after US President Donald Trump directly tied a 50 per cent tariff on imported Brazilian goods to the judicial situation of Bolsonaro, a Trump ally. The US leader has called the proceedings a "witch hunt".
Prosecutors accuse Bolsonaro of heading a criminal organisation that plotted to overturn the election, including plans to kill President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and a Supreme Court justice, Alexandre de Moraes.
Monday's order followed one from the top court in July that ordered Bolsonaro wear an electronic ankle monitor and imposed a curfew on his activities while the proceedings are under way.
Justice Moraes, who oversees the case against Bolsonaro in the court, issued the order, saying in his decision that the 70-year-old far-right leader had violated the precautionary measures imposed on him by posting content on the social media channels of his three lawmaker sons.
Moraes added that Bolsonaro, who governed Brazil between 2019 and 2022, has spread messages with "a clear content of encouragement and instigation to attacks against the Supreme Court and a blatant support for foreign intervention in the Brazilian Judiciary".
Tens of thousands of Bolsonaro supporters took the streets in the cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, pleading for Brazil's congress to pardon him and hundreds of others who are under trial for their roles in the destruction of government buildings in capital Brasilia on January 8, 2023.
The latest decision from the top court keeps Boslonaro under ankle monitoring, allows only family members and lawyers to visit him and seizes all mobile phones from his home.
Brazil's Supreme Court has ordered the house arrest for the country's former president Jair Bolsonaro, on trial for allegedly masterminding a coup plot to remain in office despite his defeat in the 2022 election.
The case has gripped the South American country as it faces a trade war with the Trump administration.
The trial is receiving renewed attention after US President Donald Trump directly tied a 50 per cent tariff on imported Brazilian goods to the judicial situation of Bolsonaro, a Trump ally. The US leader has called the proceedings a "witch hunt".
Prosecutors accuse Bolsonaro of heading a criminal organisation that plotted to overturn the election, including plans to kill President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and a Supreme Court justice, Alexandre de Moraes.
Monday's order followed one from the top court in July that ordered Bolsonaro wear an electronic ankle monitor and imposed a curfew on his activities while the proceedings are under way.
Justice Moraes, who oversees the case against Bolsonaro in the court, issued the order, saying in his decision that the 70-year-old far-right leader had violated the precautionary measures imposed on him by posting content on the social media channels of his three lawmaker sons.
Moraes added that Bolsonaro, who governed Brazil between 2019 and 2022, has spread messages with "a clear content of encouragement and instigation to attacks against the Supreme Court and a blatant support for foreign intervention in the Brazilian Judiciary".
Tens of thousands of Bolsonaro supporters took the streets in the cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, pleading for Brazil's congress to pardon him and hundreds of others who are under trial for their roles in the destruction of government buildings in capital Brasilia on January 8, 2023.
The latest decision from the top court keeps Boslonaro under ankle monitoring, allows only family members and lawyers to visit him and seizes all mobile phones from his home.
Brazil's Supreme Court has ordered the house arrest for the country's former president Jair Bolsonaro, on trial for allegedly masterminding a coup plot to remain in office despite his defeat in the 2022 election.
The case has gripped the South American country as it faces a trade war with the Trump administration.
The trial is receiving renewed attention after US President Donald Trump directly tied a 50 per cent tariff on imported Brazilian goods to the judicial situation of Bolsonaro, a Trump ally. The US leader has called the proceedings a "witch hunt".
Prosecutors accuse Bolsonaro of heading a criminal organisation that plotted to overturn the election, including plans to kill President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and a Supreme Court justice, Alexandre de Moraes.
Monday's order followed one from the top court in July that ordered Bolsonaro wear an electronic ankle monitor and imposed a curfew on his activities while the proceedings are under way.
Justice Moraes, who oversees the case against Bolsonaro in the court, issued the order, saying in his decision that the 70-year-old far-right leader had violated the precautionary measures imposed on him by posting content on the social media channels of his three lawmaker sons.
Moraes added that Bolsonaro, who governed Brazil between 2019 and 2022, has spread messages with "a clear content of encouragement and instigation to attacks against the Supreme Court and a blatant support for foreign intervention in the Brazilian Judiciary".
Tens of thousands of Bolsonaro supporters took the streets in the cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, pleading for Brazil's congress to pardon him and hundreds of others who are under trial for their roles in the destruction of government buildings in capital Brasilia on January 8, 2023.
The latest decision from the top court keeps Boslonaro under ankle monitoring, allows only family members and lawyers to visit him and seizes all mobile phones from his home.
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The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
'No shame': Minns slams convicted rapist's bid to serve as MP from jail
Lawyers for convicted rapist Gareth Ward have filed an injunction to stop his expulsion from parliament, which means he will remain MP for Kiama in the NSW Illawarra region while he awaits his sentencing behind bars. But Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig said the Supreme Court orders issued by Justice Sweeney were "non-binding upon the House" and the government would give the court the opportunity to rectify what he called "a significant constitutional error". Parliament returned on Tuesday and it was expected a notice of motion to expel the disgraced politician would be put forward. However, NSW Premier Chris Minns confirmed Ward's lawyers sought the injunction against Leader of the Lower House Ron Hoenig, with an urgent hearing to occur in the Supreme Court later this week. He warned there was a critical time factor at play, with parliament sitting from Tuesday for just one week before breaking again for five weeks. Mr Minns told 2GB radio on Tuesday morning that "most people would appreciate, it's an unconscionable situation to have someone who's currently sitting in Silverwater ... who is demanding to remain a member of parliament and continue to be paid". "Clearly he's got no shame," Mr Minns said. Mr Hoenig said he had received the orders from the Supreme Court but believed they did not stop the House from moving forward with the expulsion motion. "The orders made by the court yesterday afternoon, we say, have no effect and are not binding upon the House," Mr Hoenig said. "The House has an inherent power to conduct its own business, in accordance with the Constitution, unconstrained by any interference." He said the Crown Solicitors had been instructed to approach Justice Sweeney to "reconsider the orders that she had made to enable the House to conduct its affairs on behalf of the people unconstrained". He noted the case was listed for hearing on Friday, which is the last sitting day of the parliament until September 9. The Crown Solicitors had been instructed to try and get the case heard today rather than waiting until Friday, which may result in the parliament having to be recalled to deal with the expulsion motion. In a press conference, Mr Hoenig was asked whether the government planned to go ahead with the expulsion motion regardless of the court orders. "It is open to the House to conduct its affairs," he said. "We say that the court has no jurisdiction to prevent any member of parliament from moving a motion or any power to have the House conduct its affairs as it is entitled to under the Constitution. "However, we are talking about a separation of powers, we are talking about the Supreme Court of NSW, also a constitutional court, so we will give the court the opportunity to correct what we say is a significant constitutional error." The Minister said the affidavit from Ward's lawyers "asserted that the parliament had no jurisdiction to expel him", which Mr Hoenig said was constitutionally incorrect. Mr Hoenig said, in any debate on the expulsion motion, the parliament was free to consider waiting until Ward had exhausted the appeals process. "It's a matter for Parliament to consider, so it's my role to place the matter before the House for its consideration and for the House to consider it," Mr Hoenig said. "But as you would appreciate, the appeals process will take quite some time. "So if you run the appeals process through the Court of Criminal Appeal and then reserves its judgment, and then there's a special leave for the high court, the people of Kiama, for example, could be represented by somebody in custody right up until the next election." Ward, 44, has been in jail since last week after Judge Kara Shead SC granted a detention application to revoke his bail, after a jury found him guilty of sexual intercourse without consent and three counts of indecent assault. The Kiama MP since 2011 had faced a nine-week trial, which heard he sexually assaulted a 24-year-old man in Potts Point in 2015, and touched and massaged an 18-year-old man in Meroo Meadow in 2013. He met both men through political circles. On the morning parliament returned NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman recommitted to supporting Ward's expulsion and working with the government "to get this done as quickly as possible" "However, Mr Ward's legal team should do whatever it takes to get a clear message to him - immediately resign," Mr Speakman said. "Every day he clings to his seat from a jail cell, taxpayers are footing the bill and the people of Kiama are left voiceless. It's not just wrong, it's offensive. "This is about decency, accountability, and basic respect for the community. Mr Ward should spare the Parliament, spare the courts, and above all, spare the people of NSW any further disgrace. "Step aside." Last week, Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig sent a letter to Ward via his legal team notifying him of the parliament's plans to consider his expulsion. "I am sure you would appreciate that in view of the verdict of the jury convicting you of serious criminal offences that the House needs to consider whether your continued membership of the House requires it to act to protect the high standing of the Parliament so that it may discharge with the confidence of the community the great responsibility that it bears," the letter stated. The letter, seen by the Mercury, noted that Ward was in custody and would be unable to attend parliament when the expulsion motion is being debated. "Accordingly, I invite you to submit to me yourself or anyone on your behalf any statement or material you would want the House to consider prior to making any determination," the letter stated. It gave a deadline for submissions of 9am on August 5. Under the NSW Constitution Act, an MPs seat is declared vacant if they are convicted of a crime punishable by five years or more imprisonment. Ward is facing a maximum penalty of 14 years' jail. However, changes to the law in 2000 state that a conviction is considered to mean "once you have reached the end of the appeals process ... and not had the conviction overturned". Ward confirmed his intention to appeal in a press release issued last Friday. "I am taking advice about next steps, but I can confirm that I have provided instructions to my legal team to prepare an appeal at the earliest opportunity," he said. Parliament also has the power to expel an MP for "unworthy conduct". If the expulsion is passed a byelection will be called for the seat of Kiama. Despite being charged with the offences in 2022, Ward was re-elected to the seat as an independent in 2023. Lawyers for convicted rapist Gareth Ward have filed an injunction to stop his expulsion from parliament, which means he will remain MP for Kiama in the NSW Illawarra region while he awaits his sentencing behind bars. But Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig said the Supreme Court orders issued by Justice Sweeney were "non-binding upon the House" and the government would give the court the opportunity to rectify what he called "a significant constitutional error". Parliament returned on Tuesday and it was expected a notice of motion to expel the disgraced politician would be put forward. However, NSW Premier Chris Minns confirmed Ward's lawyers sought the injunction against Leader of the Lower House Ron Hoenig, with an urgent hearing to occur in the Supreme Court later this week. He warned there was a critical time factor at play, with parliament sitting from Tuesday for just one week before breaking again for five weeks. Mr Minns told 2GB radio on Tuesday morning that "most people would appreciate, it's an unconscionable situation to have someone who's currently sitting in Silverwater ... who is demanding to remain a member of parliament and continue to be paid". "Clearly he's got no shame," Mr Minns said. Mr Hoenig said he had received the orders from the Supreme Court but believed they did not stop the House from moving forward with the expulsion motion. "The orders made by the court yesterday afternoon, we say, have no effect and are not binding upon the House," Mr Hoenig said. "The House has an inherent power to conduct its own business, in accordance with the Constitution, unconstrained by any interference." He said the Crown Solicitors had been instructed to approach Justice Sweeney to "reconsider the orders that she had made to enable the House to conduct its affairs on behalf of the people unconstrained". He noted the case was listed for hearing on Friday, which is the last sitting day of the parliament until September 9. The Crown Solicitors had been instructed to try and get the case heard today rather than waiting until Friday, which may result in the parliament having to be recalled to deal with the expulsion motion. In a press conference, Mr Hoenig was asked whether the government planned to go ahead with the expulsion motion regardless of the court orders. "It is open to the House to conduct its affairs," he said. "We say that the court has no jurisdiction to prevent any member of parliament from moving a motion or any power to have the House conduct its affairs as it is entitled to under the Constitution. "However, we are talking about a separation of powers, we are talking about the Supreme Court of NSW, also a constitutional court, so we will give the court the opportunity to correct what we say is a significant constitutional error." The Minister said the affidavit from Ward's lawyers "asserted that the parliament had no jurisdiction to expel him", which Mr Hoenig said was constitutionally incorrect. Mr Hoenig said, in any debate on the expulsion motion, the parliament was free to consider waiting until Ward had exhausted the appeals process. "It's a matter for Parliament to consider, so it's my role to place the matter before the House for its consideration and for the House to consider it," Mr Hoenig said. "But as you would appreciate, the appeals process will take quite some time. "So if you run the appeals process through the Court of Criminal Appeal and then reserves its judgment, and then there's a special leave for the high court, the people of Kiama, for example, could be represented by somebody in custody right up until the next election." Ward, 44, has been in jail since last week after Judge Kara Shead SC granted a detention application to revoke his bail, after a jury found him guilty of sexual intercourse without consent and three counts of indecent assault. The Kiama MP since 2011 had faced a nine-week trial, which heard he sexually assaulted a 24-year-old man in Potts Point in 2015, and touched and massaged an 18-year-old man in Meroo Meadow in 2013. He met both men through political circles. On the morning parliament returned NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman recommitted to supporting Ward's expulsion and working with the government "to get this done as quickly as possible" "However, Mr Ward's legal team should do whatever it takes to get a clear message to him - immediately resign," Mr Speakman said. "Every day he clings to his seat from a jail cell, taxpayers are footing the bill and the people of Kiama are left voiceless. It's not just wrong, it's offensive. "This is about decency, accountability, and basic respect for the community. Mr Ward should spare the Parliament, spare the courts, and above all, spare the people of NSW any further disgrace. "Step aside." Last week, Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig sent a letter to Ward via his legal team notifying him of the parliament's plans to consider his expulsion. "I am sure you would appreciate that in view of the verdict of the jury convicting you of serious criminal offences that the House needs to consider whether your continued membership of the House requires it to act to protect the high standing of the Parliament so that it may discharge with the confidence of the community the great responsibility that it bears," the letter stated. The letter, seen by the Mercury, noted that Ward was in custody and would be unable to attend parliament when the expulsion motion is being debated. "Accordingly, I invite you to submit to me yourself or anyone on your behalf any statement or material you would want the House to consider prior to making any determination," the letter stated. It gave a deadline for submissions of 9am on August 5. Under the NSW Constitution Act, an MPs seat is declared vacant if they are convicted of a crime punishable by five years or more imprisonment. Ward is facing a maximum penalty of 14 years' jail. However, changes to the law in 2000 state that a conviction is considered to mean "once you have reached the end of the appeals process ... and not had the conviction overturned". Ward confirmed his intention to appeal in a press release issued last Friday. "I am taking advice about next steps, but I can confirm that I have provided instructions to my legal team to prepare an appeal at the earliest opportunity," he said. Parliament also has the power to expel an MP for "unworthy conduct". If the expulsion is passed a byelection will be called for the seat of Kiama. Despite being charged with the offences in 2022, Ward was re-elected to the seat as an independent in 2023. Lawyers for convicted rapist Gareth Ward have filed an injunction to stop his expulsion from parliament, which means he will remain MP for Kiama in the NSW Illawarra region while he awaits his sentencing behind bars. But Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig said the Supreme Court orders issued by Justice Sweeney were "non-binding upon the House" and the government would give the court the opportunity to rectify what he called "a significant constitutional error". Parliament returned on Tuesday and it was expected a notice of motion to expel the disgraced politician would be put forward. However, NSW Premier Chris Minns confirmed Ward's lawyers sought the injunction against Leader of the Lower House Ron Hoenig, with an urgent hearing to occur in the Supreme Court later this week. He warned there was a critical time factor at play, with parliament sitting from Tuesday for just one week before breaking again for five weeks. Mr Minns told 2GB radio on Tuesday morning that "most people would appreciate, it's an unconscionable situation to have someone who's currently sitting in Silverwater ... who is demanding to remain a member of parliament and continue to be paid". "Clearly he's got no shame," Mr Minns said. Mr Hoenig said he had received the orders from the Supreme Court but believed they did not stop the House from moving forward with the expulsion motion. "The orders made by the court yesterday afternoon, we say, have no effect and are not binding upon the House," Mr Hoenig said. "The House has an inherent power to conduct its own business, in accordance with the Constitution, unconstrained by any interference." He said the Crown Solicitors had been instructed to approach Justice Sweeney to "reconsider the orders that she had made to enable the House to conduct its affairs on behalf of the people unconstrained". He noted the case was listed for hearing on Friday, which is the last sitting day of the parliament until September 9. The Crown Solicitors had been instructed to try and get the case heard today rather than waiting until Friday, which may result in the parliament having to be recalled to deal with the expulsion motion. In a press conference, Mr Hoenig was asked whether the government planned to go ahead with the expulsion motion regardless of the court orders. "It is open to the House to conduct its affairs," he said. "We say that the court has no jurisdiction to prevent any member of parliament from moving a motion or any power to have the House conduct its affairs as it is entitled to under the Constitution. "However, we are talking about a separation of powers, we are talking about the Supreme Court of NSW, also a constitutional court, so we will give the court the opportunity to correct what we say is a significant constitutional error." The Minister said the affidavit from Ward's lawyers "asserted that the parliament had no jurisdiction to expel him", which Mr Hoenig said was constitutionally incorrect. Mr Hoenig said, in any debate on the expulsion motion, the parliament was free to consider waiting until Ward had exhausted the appeals process. "It's a matter for Parliament to consider, so it's my role to place the matter before the House for its consideration and for the House to consider it," Mr Hoenig said. "But as you would appreciate, the appeals process will take quite some time. "So if you run the appeals process through the Court of Criminal Appeal and then reserves its judgment, and then there's a special leave for the high court, the people of Kiama, for example, could be represented by somebody in custody right up until the next election." Ward, 44, has been in jail since last week after Judge Kara Shead SC granted a detention application to revoke his bail, after a jury found him guilty of sexual intercourse without consent and three counts of indecent assault. The Kiama MP since 2011 had faced a nine-week trial, which heard he sexually assaulted a 24-year-old man in Potts Point in 2015, and touched and massaged an 18-year-old man in Meroo Meadow in 2013. He met both men through political circles. On the morning parliament returned NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman recommitted to supporting Ward's expulsion and working with the government "to get this done as quickly as possible" "However, Mr Ward's legal team should do whatever it takes to get a clear message to him - immediately resign," Mr Speakman said. "Every day he clings to his seat from a jail cell, taxpayers are footing the bill and the people of Kiama are left voiceless. It's not just wrong, it's offensive. "This is about decency, accountability, and basic respect for the community. Mr Ward should spare the Parliament, spare the courts, and above all, spare the people of NSW any further disgrace. "Step aside." Last week, Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig sent a letter to Ward via his legal team notifying him of the parliament's plans to consider his expulsion. "I am sure you would appreciate that in view of the verdict of the jury convicting you of serious criminal offences that the House needs to consider whether your continued membership of the House requires it to act to protect the high standing of the Parliament so that it may discharge with the confidence of the community the great responsibility that it bears," the letter stated. The letter, seen by the Mercury, noted that Ward was in custody and would be unable to attend parliament when the expulsion motion is being debated. "Accordingly, I invite you to submit to me yourself or anyone on your behalf any statement or material you would want the House to consider prior to making any determination," the letter stated. It gave a deadline for submissions of 9am on August 5. Under the NSW Constitution Act, an MPs seat is declared vacant if they are convicted of a crime punishable by five years or more imprisonment. Ward is facing a maximum penalty of 14 years' jail. However, changes to the law in 2000 state that a conviction is considered to mean "once you have reached the end of the appeals process ... and not had the conviction overturned". Ward confirmed his intention to appeal in a press release issued last Friday. "I am taking advice about next steps, but I can confirm that I have provided instructions to my legal team to prepare an appeal at the earliest opportunity," he said. Parliament also has the power to expel an MP for "unworthy conduct". If the expulsion is passed a byelection will be called for the seat of Kiama. Despite being charged with the offences in 2022, Ward was re-elected to the seat as an independent in 2023. Lawyers for convicted rapist Gareth Ward have filed an injunction to stop his expulsion from parliament, which means he will remain MP for Kiama in the NSW Illawarra region while he awaits his sentencing behind bars. But Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig said the Supreme Court orders issued by Justice Sweeney were "non-binding upon the House" and the government would give the court the opportunity to rectify what he called "a significant constitutional error". Parliament returned on Tuesday and it was expected a notice of motion to expel the disgraced politician would be put forward. However, NSW Premier Chris Minns confirmed Ward's lawyers sought the injunction against Leader of the Lower House Ron Hoenig, with an urgent hearing to occur in the Supreme Court later this week. He warned there was a critical time factor at play, with parliament sitting from Tuesday for just one week before breaking again for five weeks. Mr Minns told 2GB radio on Tuesday morning that "most people would appreciate, it's an unconscionable situation to have someone who's currently sitting in Silverwater ... who is demanding to remain a member of parliament and continue to be paid". "Clearly he's got no shame," Mr Minns said. Mr Hoenig said he had received the orders from the Supreme Court but believed they did not stop the House from moving forward with the expulsion motion. "The orders made by the court yesterday afternoon, we say, have no effect and are not binding upon the House," Mr Hoenig said. "The House has an inherent power to conduct its own business, in accordance with the Constitution, unconstrained by any interference." He said the Crown Solicitors had been instructed to approach Justice Sweeney to "reconsider the orders that she had made to enable the House to conduct its affairs on behalf of the people unconstrained". He noted the case was listed for hearing on Friday, which is the last sitting day of the parliament until September 9. The Crown Solicitors had been instructed to try and get the case heard today rather than waiting until Friday, which may result in the parliament having to be recalled to deal with the expulsion motion. In a press conference, Mr Hoenig was asked whether the government planned to go ahead with the expulsion motion regardless of the court orders. "It is open to the House to conduct its affairs," he said. "We say that the court has no jurisdiction to prevent any member of parliament from moving a motion or any power to have the House conduct its affairs as it is entitled to under the Constitution. "However, we are talking about a separation of powers, we are talking about the Supreme Court of NSW, also a constitutional court, so we will give the court the opportunity to correct what we say is a significant constitutional error." The Minister said the affidavit from Ward's lawyers "asserted that the parliament had no jurisdiction to expel him", which Mr Hoenig said was constitutionally incorrect. Mr Hoenig said, in any debate on the expulsion motion, the parliament was free to consider waiting until Ward had exhausted the appeals process. "It's a matter for Parliament to consider, so it's my role to place the matter before the House for its consideration and for the House to consider it," Mr Hoenig said. "But as you would appreciate, the appeals process will take quite some time. "So if you run the appeals process through the Court of Criminal Appeal and then reserves its judgment, and then there's a special leave for the high court, the people of Kiama, for example, could be represented by somebody in custody right up until the next election." Ward, 44, has been in jail since last week after Judge Kara Shead SC granted a detention application to revoke his bail, after a jury found him guilty of sexual intercourse without consent and three counts of indecent assault. The Kiama MP since 2011 had faced a nine-week trial, which heard he sexually assaulted a 24-year-old man in Potts Point in 2015, and touched and massaged an 18-year-old man in Meroo Meadow in 2013. He met both men through political circles. On the morning parliament returned NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman recommitted to supporting Ward's expulsion and working with the government "to get this done as quickly as possible" "However, Mr Ward's legal team should do whatever it takes to get a clear message to him - immediately resign," Mr Speakman said. "Every day he clings to his seat from a jail cell, taxpayers are footing the bill and the people of Kiama are left voiceless. It's not just wrong, it's offensive. "This is about decency, accountability, and basic respect for the community. Mr Ward should spare the Parliament, spare the courts, and above all, spare the people of NSW any further disgrace. "Step aside." Last week, Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig sent a letter to Ward via his legal team notifying him of the parliament's plans to consider his expulsion. "I am sure you would appreciate that in view of the verdict of the jury convicting you of serious criminal offences that the House needs to consider whether your continued membership of the House requires it to act to protect the high standing of the Parliament so that it may discharge with the confidence of the community the great responsibility that it bears," the letter stated. The letter, seen by the Mercury, noted that Ward was in custody and would be unable to attend parliament when the expulsion motion is being debated. "Accordingly, I invite you to submit to me yourself or anyone on your behalf any statement or material you would want the House to consider prior to making any determination," the letter stated. It gave a deadline for submissions of 9am on August 5. Under the NSW Constitution Act, an MPs seat is declared vacant if they are convicted of a crime punishable by five years or more imprisonment. Ward is facing a maximum penalty of 14 years' jail. However, changes to the law in 2000 state that a conviction is considered to mean "once you have reached the end of the appeals process ... and not had the conviction overturned". Ward confirmed his intention to appeal in a press release issued last Friday. "I am taking advice about next steps, but I can confirm that I have provided instructions to my legal team to prepare an appeal at the earliest opportunity," he said. Parliament also has the power to expel an MP for "unworthy conduct". If the expulsion is passed a byelection will be called for the seat of Kiama. Despite being charged with the offences in 2022, Ward was re-elected to the seat as an independent in 2023.
Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Trump and Murdoch agree to pause in battle over Epstein article
Rupert Murdoch and Donald Trump have agreed to pause the media mogul's deposition in a libel lawsuit brought by the US president last month over a story published by The Wall Street Journal detailing Trump's dealings with Jeffrey Epstein. Court filings released on Tuesday say the two parties reached an agreement to hold off on Murdoch's deposition until after The Wall Street Journal' s motion to dismiss the case has been heard. Trump had initially sought Murdoch's deposition to be expedited, citing the 94-year-old's age and health, which some media outlets have labelled a stunt. The parties have also agreed not to engage in discovery in the meantime, filings released by the Florida Court said. The agreement was reached on Monday evening according to US media outlet Politico. The likely outcome is that Murdoch, also facing a resumption of his own family legal battle in Nevada this year, will not appear in court for at least several months, and would only need to if the Journal 's motion to dismiss the case fails. The filing also said Murdoch would appear in a mutually agreed location, in person, within 30 days, should the motion fail, and that he has agreed to provide 'regularly scheduled updates to the Plaintiff [Trump] regarding his health', including a mechanism for him to alert the president if there is a material change in his health. Loading Trump brought the $US10 billion ($15 billion) suit last month after The Journal published a story reporting that he had signed a letter to Epstein, the disgraced Wall Street financier for his 50th birthday, which included a drawing of a naked woman with his signature attached. The president named Murdoch, News Corp CEO Robert Thomson and the two reporters responsible for the article as defendants. The company intends to defend the reporting.
The Age
an hour ago
- The Age
Trump and Murdoch agree to pause in battle over Epstein article
Rupert Murdoch and Donald Trump have agreed to pause the media mogul's deposition in a libel lawsuit brought by the US president last month over a story published by The Wall Street Journal detailing Trump's dealings with Jeffrey Epstein. Court filings released on Tuesday say the two parties reached an agreement to hold off on Murdoch's deposition until after The Wall Street Journal' s motion to dismiss the case has been heard. Trump had initially sought Murdoch's deposition to be expedited, citing the 94-year-old's age and health, which some media outlets have labelled a stunt. The parties have also agreed not to engage in discovery in the meantime, filings released by the Florida Court said. The agreement was reached on Monday evening according to US media outlet Politico. The likely outcome is that Murdoch, also facing a resumption of his own family legal battle in Nevada this year, will not appear in court for at least several months, and would only need to if the Journal 's motion to dismiss the case fails. The filing also said Murdoch would appear in a mutually agreed location, in person, within 30 days, should the motion fail, and that he has agreed to provide 'regularly scheduled updates to the Plaintiff [Trump] regarding his health', including a mechanism for him to alert the president if there is a material change in his health. Loading Trump brought the $US10 billion ($15 billion) suit last month after The Journal published a story reporting that he had signed a letter to Epstein, the disgraced Wall Street financier for his 50th birthday, which included a drawing of a naked woman with his signature attached. The president named Murdoch, News Corp CEO Robert Thomson and the two reporters responsible for the article as defendants. The company intends to defend the reporting.
