Kiama MP Gareth Ward's sexual assault trial delayed for a year

The Independent MP's trial was due to begin earlier this month, but his legal counsel had the date vacated to allow time to go over a trove of evidence served by The Crown.

Ward, 42, was charged in March 2022 with one count of sexual intercourse without consent, three counts of indecent assault, and an alternative count of common assault.

"Whilst I'm pleased the court has set a date, I am disappointed that the trial couldn't have gone ahead on 8 April," Ward said.

"The reason for the delay is that the NSW Police provided a significant volume of materiel less than a week before the trial was due to commence.

"Almost all of that material should have been provided much earlier.

"In the case of some of the material, the police had been in possession of it for nearly three years but failed to disclose it.

"In court documents filed on Friday, my team foreshadowed a costs application based on the late disclosure and the impact it has had in causing the delay to proceedings set down for 8 April that have now been vacated."

Prosecutors will allege he indecently assaulted a 17-year-old boy at Meroo Meadow in February 2013, and allegedly sexually abused a 27-year-old man in Sydney's Potts Point in September 2015.

Ward was excused from appearing at the Sydney Downing Centre District Court on Monday morning, where Judge Timothy Gartelmann fixed a new trial date of May 26.

The trial is expected to run for three to four weeks.

Ward served as the NSW Minister of Families, Communities and Disability Services for two years under the previous Liberal government. He was dumped from the party and suspended from parliament after being charged.

Ward retained his seat of Kiama on the South Coast after running as an independent in the 2023 state government elections. He remains on bail while he awaits his trial.