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The Guardian
7 hours ago
- The Guardian
Afternoon Update: more legal issues for convicted rapist MP Gareth Ward; Australia's biggest battery; and the joy of cooking for one
Welcome, readers, to Afternoon Update. Convicted rapist MP Gareth Ward will face an urgent court hearing on Thursday after he sought an injunction from the New South Wales supreme court to stop his parliamentary colleagues expelling him from the state parliament. The Minns government on Tuesday sought the hearing in the supreme court to lift an ex parte injunction granted the previous day to Ward. The injunction prevents parliament, until at least Thursday, from moving to expel Ward. The parliament faced a potential constitutional showdown with the state's supreme court after the leader of the Legislative Assembly, Ron Hoenig, told reporters the government did not believe the court had the constitutional power to restrain the parliament or any member from moving a motion in the lower house. However, 'out of respect for the court', the parliament would apply for a more urgent hearing date, when it would seek to have the injunction lifted, Hoenig said. Ward has said he will appeal against his July criminal convictions on three counts of indecent assault and one for sexual intercourse without consent involving two young men in 2013 and 2015. First Nations group launches federal appeal to block construction of main Brisbane 2032 Olympics stadium Australia's biggest battery now on standby to prevent NSW power blackouts 'Absolutely the best ship': Japan wins $10bn contract to grow Australia's naval fleet Jim Acosta interviews 'made-up' AI avatar of mass shooting victim Joaquin Oliver More than 40 arrested at Gaza genocide protest at Trump hotel in New York AFL premiership coach Simon Goodwin sacked by Melbourne Demons Sydney Harbour completely disappeared under a thick fog on Tuesday morning. Dramatic footage captured the moment the fog lifted to reveal the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House. 'There is a risk there will be no Palestine left to recognise if the international community don't move to create that pathway to a two-state solution.' – Penny Wong The foreign affairs minister spoke on ABC about the urgency behind Australia's commitment. Earlier, Anthony Albanese had used a call with the Palestinian Authority president, Mahmoud Abbas, to reaffirm Australia's commitment to a two-state solution saying: 'A just and lasting peace depends upon it.' Is Australia a conspiracy theory nation? Conspiracy theories and fringe ideas are now increasingly a visible part of Australian politics and public life. But what pushes people to abandon our shared reality, and what is responsible for the rapid rise in false truths? Reged Ahmad talks with Ariel Bogle and Cam Wilson about the threat conspiracy theories pose to Australia. Sign up to Afternoon Update Our Australian afternoon update breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Listen to the episode here After a lifetime of cooking for the multitudes, writer and former caterer Elizabeth Quinn adapted to cooking for one. It's been both a relief and a revelation. Single householders aged 65 and over are increasing as a proportion of the population, so from olives to chickpeas and dukkah, here are 20 pantry, fridge and freezer essentials for households frying solo. Today's starter word is: MUD. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply. Enjoying the Afternoon Update? Then you'll love our Morning Mail newsletter. Sign up here to start the day with a curated breakdown of the key stories you need to know, and complete your daily news roundup. And follow the latest in US politics by signing up for This Week in Trumpland. If you have a story tip or technical issue viewing this newsletter, please reply to this email. If you are a Guardian supporter and need assistance with regards to contributions and/or digital subscriptions, please email
The Guardian
12 hours ago
- The Guardian
NSW faces constitutional showdown as parliament's push to expel convicted rapist Gareth Ward delayed by supreme court
New South Wales politicians are facing a potential constitutional showdown with the state's supreme court over parliament's attempt to expel local MP and convicted rapist Gareth Ward. The Minns government was seeking an urgent hearing in the supreme court on Tuesday with a view to lifting an ex parte injunction granted the previous day to Ward. It prevented parliament, for now, from moving to expel the member for Kiama. Ward commenced the proceedings on Monday night via his lawyers from Silverwater jail, where he has been remanded pending sentencing in September. Ward has said he will appeal his July criminal convictions on three counts of indecent assault and one for sexual intercourse without consent involving two young men in incidents that occurred in 2013 and 2015. The leader of the Legislative Assembly, Ron Hoenig, told reporters that the government did not believe the court had the constitutional power to restrain the parliament or any member from moving a motion in the lower house. However, 'out of respect for the court,' the parliament would apply for a more urgent hearing date, when it would seek to have the injunction lifted. Justice Deborah Sweeney, the duty judge in the supreme court, granted Ward an urgent application for the injunction on Monday night after the government notified the MP and his lawyers of Tuesday's proposed motion to expel him. He was invited to submit any arguments he wished to make. The government did not have an opportunity to make submissions to the court on Monday night. Hoenig said the government's position was that the orders 'have no effect [and] are not binding on the house'. 'The house has an inherent power, in accordance with the constitution, unconstrained by any order. However, because the order has been made by the supreme court of NSW, I have instructed the crown solicitors to approch her honour as soon as possible to reconsider the orders she has made to allow the house to conduct its business … as it has for 169 years,' the leader of the house said. 'The issue is of considerable significance. The house needs to be able to make its [expulsion decision] to protect itself, and we will be making an approach to the judge as early as today.' Hoenig said the scheduled hearing on Friday was too late, as the parliament was due to rise on Friday and would need to be recalled if Ward's injunction was not dealt with more swiftly. The NSW premier, Chris Minns, has made it clear he wants Ward to resign – or the government would remove him via an expulsion motion. 'We've got a week of parliament to sit, and I think that most people would appreciate, it's an unconscionable situation to have someone who's currently sitting in jail in Silverwater, convicted of serious sexual offences, who is demanding to remain a member of parliament and continue to be paid,' Minns told 2GB radio on Tuesday. Sign up to Morning Mail Our Australian morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Ward's conviction has plunged the NSW parliament into uncharted territory. As an independent member, he has not been under the usual pressure to resign from a political party. Therefore, the parliament is having to rely on a little-used inherent power to protect itself if the conduct of a member would damage the integrity of the parliament and endanger its proper functioning. The government had planned to begin moves to expel him on Tuersday with a vote expected on Wednesday. The opposition leader, Mark Speakman, said the Coalition would support the government seeking Ward's expulsion. '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,' Speakman said on Tuesday. In 2021, Ward left the Liberal party and moved to the crossbench after identifying himself as the state MP under investigation by the child abuse and sex crimes squad of the NSW police force. When charges were laid in March 2022, the then NSW premier, Dominic Perrottet, called for his resignation. Later that month, Ward was suspended after a motion unanimously passed the Legislative Assembly. In August 2022, Ward was committed to stand trial. But Ward's voters in the south coast state seat of Kiama re-elected him in March 2023 and he returned to Macquarie Street.
BBC News
14 hours ago
- BBC News
Gareth Ward: Convicted rapist fighting to remain in parliament in Australia
An Australian politician convicted of rape is fighting - from his jail cell - to remain a member of the New South Wales (NSW) Ward was last month found guilty of sexually assaulting two young men, aged 18 and 24, at his home between 2013 and 2015, and is now in custody pending NSW House of Representatives had planned to expel the 44-year-old this week after he refused to resign following the guilty lawyers for Ward - who plans to appeal his conviction - say they will seek an injunction, at a Supreme Court hearing on Friday, to stop the independent member for Kiama from being forced out. "He's got no shame," NSW Premier Chris Minns told local radio station 2GB on repeated calls for Ward to resign from state parliament, saying it's the "first and most obvious choice"."It's an unconscionable situation to have someone who's currently sitting in jail in Silverwater, convicted of serious sexual offences, who is demanding to remain a member of parliament and continue to be paid," Minns said. Ward resigned as a state government minister and from the Liberal Party when the accusations emerged in 2021, but refused to leave parliament and was re-elected as the member for Kiama in NSW government had previously considered voting to expel Ward - who has been a state MP since 2011 - but legal advice indicated it could risk prejudicing his is due to be sentenced next month, for three counts of indecent assault and one count of rape.
