NSW election: Gareth Ward leads primary vote in Kiama despite being suspended from parliament

NSW election: Gareth Ward is leading the primary vote in Kiama but he says the seat is still ‘anyone’s bet’. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP

A former Liberal MP who was forced to resign from the party after he revealed he was the subject of sexual abuse allegations is nevertheless leading the primary vote count in his New South Wales seat, which he contested as an independent.

Gareth Ward, who was subsequently charged over allegations of sexual abuse against a man and a 17-year-old boy, has received 38.2% of the primary vote in the coastal seat of Kiama, with around 40% of votes counted. Ward has pleaded not guilty to the charges.