Former Kiama MP Gareth Ward has issued a statement to congratulate Katelin McInerney on her by-election victory after the Labor candidate's landslide win last weekend.

Ward will appear before Judge Kara Shead again on Friday in Parramatta District Court for sentencing after he was convicted of sexual intercourse without consent and three counts of indecent assault, stemming from incidents involving an 18-year-old in 2013 and a 24-year-old political staffer in 2015.

The 44-year-old, who held the Kiama seat for more than a decade for the Liberal Party before he won the 2023 election as an independent, paid tribute to the 13 candidates who threw their hat into the ring for the recent by-election which was announced by the NSW Government after his resignation.

"I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate Katelin on her election as the Member for Kiama," he wrote in his statement.

"I also take this opportunity to thank all of those who stood for election and put themselves forward along with their ideas for our community for consideration.

"It is important that we all fight for a vibrant and robust democracy, and that the people get the opportunity to choose who they believe is the best representative for our local community."

Ward said the Labor government had made plenty of pledges during the by-election campaign and it was incumbent upon them to deliver on those promises.

"Representing my local community in Parliament has been the greatest honour of my life and I look forward to watching what the new member is able to achieve for our region," he added.

"My only advice to the new member is that people will judge you not on what you say but what you do and deliver.

"Labor promised a lot at this election, it’s now up to them to deliver.

"I take this opportunity to thank my hardworking electorate office staff who have served our community with distinction during my time in office. I also take this opportunity to thank my, family, friends and supporters.

"I'll continue to watch on with a very keen interest on the issues that matter to our community."