Ward, the now former MP for Kiama, earlier this week took action in the state’s supreme court in an attempt to remain in the lower house

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Convicted rapist Gareth Ward has resigned as a New South Wales MP just moments before the state’s parliament was due to expel him.

The resignation automatically vacates his south coast seat, meaning there will be a byelection. The seat was held by Ward for the Liberal party from 2011 until he was expelled from the party. He subsequently ran as an independent and was re-elected in 2023 after being charged by police.