NSW Premier Chris Minns has criticised independent MP Gareth Ward for showing up at parliament in a state of undress at 4am on a Sunday in July, describing the visit as a workplace safety issue and urging parliamentary officeholders to explain what happened.
On Wednesday, The Daily Telegraph reported on the existence of a parliamentary security report which alleged Ward, the independent Kiama MP, had arrived at parliament early on July 21 wearing a “T-shirt, underwear and socks” and with a gash on his head.
Independent MP Gareth Ward and Premier Chris Minns.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen, Dominic Lorrimer
The report alleged Ward had smelt of alcohol, but the MP has vehemently denied being drunk and disputed the characterisation of his state of undress. He said he had gone to parliament after being woken by a noise in the middle of the night and locking himself out of his Potts Point apartment.
The Sydney Morning Herald has not seen a copy of the report but has confirmed its existence. The Herald has also confirmed Ward was wearing boxer shorts and a hooded jumper.
On Thursday, Minns labelled the incident “very serious” and “far from appropriate in a workplace”.
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“It wouldn’t be appropriate in the Commonwealth Bank or the Department of Education, and I think taxpayers would say it’s not appropriate in the NSW parliament either,” he said.
“So the parliament and Mr Ward need to explain what happened here.
“We’ll be looking at their explanations in the hours ahead. This is a workplace. It’s not just members of parliament who work in the parliamentary building.