Gareth James Ward is an Australian politician who was the New South Wales Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services in the second Berejiklian ministry from 2019 to 2021.
20 Facts About Gareth Ward
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Gareth Ward was previously the Parliamentary Secretary for Education, in addition to his role as the Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra and South Coast from 2017 until 2019.
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Previously, Gareth Ward was a councillor on Shoalhaven City Council from 2004 until 2012.
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Gareth Ward holds degrees in commerce and arts from the University of Wollongong and Bachelor of Laws from the University of New England, and a Master of Laws from the University of Sydney.
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Gareth Ward holds a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Australian National University, and is an Admitted Solicitor in the Supreme Court of NSW and the High Court of Australia.
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From 2001 to 2006, Gareth Ward was on the Council of the Wollongong Undergraduate Students' Association at the university, and was involved with the Australian Liberal Students Federation.
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On 27 March 2004 Gareth Ward was elected to the Shoalhaven City Council as an independent councillor representing the northern parts of Shoalhaven.
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Gareth Ward was re-elected on 13 September 2008 and was appointed deputy mayor in the same month.
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On 12 April 2010, Gareth Ward was preselected as the Liberal candidate for Kiama.
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At the 2011 state election, Gareth Ward was elected with a swing of 19.4 points and won the seat with 57.5 per cent of the vote on a two-party basis.
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In March 2017, Gareth Ward was appointed as the Parliamentary Secretary for Education.
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Gareth Ward retained his existing responsibilities as the Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra and South Coast.
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Gareth Ward was re-elected as an independent in the 2023 New South Wales state election.
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In September 2017 Gareth Ward claimed to have been the target of an attempted mugging in New York City while staying at the Intercontinental Hotel.
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Gareth Ward claimed to have booked a male masseur for a massage, which was reported as a "special massage".
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When two men turned up and announced that both of them were minors, Gareth Ward told them to leave.
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Gareth Ward then claimed the duo became aggressive and demanded US$1000 before they would leave.
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In September 2018 Gareth Ward was described in federal parliament by his fellow Liberal colleague, Ann Sudmalis, as leading a campaign of "bullying, betrayal and backstabbing" against her while she was a representative.
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Gareth Ward described his determination as to "annihilate anyone who opposed him" with his motivation being "Gareth's narcissistic revenge".
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In July 2024, Gareth Ward arrived at Parliament House at 4 am to retrieve his spare house keys after locking himself out of his apartment at Potts Point.