Independent NSW MP Gareth Ward has been charged by police with the alleged historical sexual abuse of a man and a teenage boy.
The Member for Kiama, a former Liberal frontbencher, resigned from the ministry and moved to the crossbench in May last year after it was revealed he was being investigated by police.
The 40-year-old attended Oaks Flats Police Station today.
He has been charged with three counts of assault with act of indecency, and one count each of sexual intercourse without consent and common assault.
Detectives allege Mr Ward indecently assaulted a 17-year-old boy at Meroo Meadow in February 2013, and sexually abused a 27-year-old man in Sydney in September 2015.
He was granted conditional bail and is due to face Port Kembla Court in May.
In a statement, Mr Ward said he was completely innocent of the charges.
"I will be instructing my lawyers to seek to bring this matter before the courts as quickly as possible and I look forward to demonstrating my innocence there," he said.
"While others have already attempted to prosecute my case in the media rather than the courts, out of respect for our system of justice I will not be doing the same.
"Accordingly, I will be making no further comment at this time."
Mr Ward moved to the crossbench after confirming he was being investigated by police in May 2021.
At the time, he was serving as Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services under former premier Gladys Berejiklian.
Current Premier Dominic Perrottet issued a statement on Tuesday afternoon saying he would seek Mr Ward's immediate resignation from Parliament.
"While Mr Ward is entitled to the presumption of innocence, as any citizen is, the standards expected of an elected Member of Parliament are not compatible with the seriousness of the charges he is facing," Mr Perrottet said.
"Following discussion with the Acting Premier, I have therefore attempted to contact the Kiama MP to seek his resignation from the Parliament with immediate effect.
"Should Mr Ward not resign, the government will move a motion to remove him from the Parliament."
The Premier said he had also written to the Liberal Party's state director asking Mr Ward be suspended from the party pending the outcome of the criminal case against him.
