NSW government told it cannot dock pay of MP charged with sexual abuse

Former minister Gareth Ward, who has professed his innocence, has already been suspended from parliament

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The New South Wales government has been told it cannot strip suspended MP Gareth Ward of his pay, staff or other entitlements without enacting new legislation, a step it should not take because it may be vulnerable to legal challenge".

Ward, the MP for Kiama, was suspended from the state's parliament in March after he was charged over allegations of sexual abuse against a man and a 17-year-old boy. The suspension came after legal advice found the government could not expel Ward from the parliament.

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