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NSW state MP Gareth Ward.Credit:Louise Kennerley

The government on Thursday afternoon moved to suspend Mr Ward,with the support of the opposition.

The Kiama MP will retain his salary,despite the government earlier this week floating it was considering an attempt to suspend it.

Mr Ward said he was “extremely disappointed” with the decision to suspend him,but maintained he would continue to represent his local electorate.

“I will,however,continue to represent and lobby for my local community as its democratically elected member of parliament,” Mr Ward said.

“As challenging a time as this is for me personally,I have an important job to do and I intend to get on with it.”

Within hours of police laying the charges earlier this week,Premier Dominic Perrottet issued a statement calling for Mr Ward’s resignation and warning the government would move to “remove” him if he did not.

While Mr Perrottet indicated he wanted Mr Ward ousted from parliament,the government received subsequent advice that he could not be sacked over the charges and that the parliament should not discuss the matter because it could prejudice a future trial.

Labor MP Ron Hoenig on Thursday afternoon criticised the government’s handling of Mr Ward’s future in parliament.

“You’re careering around and one of the most serious matters,and you have absolutely no idea what you’re doing,” Mr Hoenig said of the Premier’s statement.

“You’re bumbling and stumbling around with one of the most serious matters.”

He urged the government to refer the matter to the Standing Committee on Parliamentary Privilege and Ethics to deal with Mr Ward’s access to entitlements and an electorate office.

Some members of the government wanted to expel Mr Ward from parliament after he was charged with sexual offences,but subsequent legal advice indicated such a move could unfairly affect the outcome of any future trial.

Mr Ward was charged at Oak Flats police station on the South Coast,where he was granted conditional bail to appear at Port Kembla Local Court on May 18.

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