Kiama MP Gareth Ward appeared in Downing Centre District Court on Monday for the start of the trial where he faces five charges of sexual assault from incidents alleged to have occurred in 2013 and 2015.

Ward pleaded not guilty to all five charges, including sexual intercourse without consent, common assault and three counts of indecent assault.

The 43-year-old independent state member for Kiama addressed the media outside the court before the trial started.

“Obviously, there’s a lot I would like to say and there will be an appropriate time for that,” he said.

“But out of absolute respect for the court process, I can’t comment at this point. And I have nothing further to say at this time."

Ward has been Kiama’s state representative in NSW Parliament for the past 14 years and won three elections as a Liberal candidate before he retained the seat as an independent just over two years ago.

He was charged following alleged assaults of an 18-year-old male at Meroo Meadow in the Shoalhaven in 2013 as well another incident two years later involving a man aged in his 20s at the Sydney suburb of Potts Point.

Police charged him in March 2022 but the trial has been delayed a number of times.

The jury is expected to be empanelled on Tuesday and the trial is likely to run for around a month.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028