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Gareth Ward, the convicted Member of Parliament for Kiama, has stepped down from his position in the New South Wales Parliament just moments before a vote that could have led to his expulsion, as reported by 9News. With his resignation, Ward will forfeit his salary funded by taxpayers, prompting the need for a by-election to find a new representative for the Kiama electorate.
Ward is currently awaiting sentencing following his conviction for the sexual assault of an intoxicated political staff member during a parliamentary event in 2015.