The late-night arrival of a former minister to Parliament without pants or a security pass has been approved by an ethics committee.
However, concerns have been raised over how confidential details of Gareth Ward’s surprising out-of-hours visit made it to the newspapers.
The former New South Wales minister for families, communities and disability services was wearing boxers and a jumper after locking himself outside his Sydney city apartment, near state parliament, on July 21.
Ward said he jumped out of bed around 4 a.m. after hearing a noise outside, only to stay outside.
Believing his chances of getting a locksmith were slim, he went to parliament to collect spare keys from his office and was let in by a parliamentary security guard.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said in September the behavior was inappropriate.
But a parliamentary ethics committee, mostly made up of government MPs, disagreed.
The committee reviewed the safety report and unanimously resolved that the incident had not caused any complaints, safety issues or any other matter that required further investigation by the lower house.
Former NSW families, communities and disability services minister Gareth Ward (pictured) was cleared by an ethics committee after appearing in parliament after hours in his underpants when he locked himself outside his home.
MPs had the right to access the parliamentary grounds safely at any time, committee chair Alex Greenwich said.
“This includes the case that they have forgotten or lost their pass,” said the independent deputy.
“When a member does not have their pass with them, special agents are there to help them access the premises.”
He added that it was worrying that a confidential security report and details of Mr Ward’s entry into the building were provided to the media.
Speaker Greg Piper had been urged to strengthen measures ensuring the security and privacy of members entering and leaving the parliamentary grounds.
The ethics committee unanimously ruled that the incident had not caused complaints, safety concerns or any other matter that required further investigation by the lower house. Pictured is Gareth Ward with former New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
Ward was a cabinet minister in the Berejiklian government before moving to the crossbench after being accused of historic sex offenses, which he denies.
He was re-elected as an independent in the last elections.
The Kiama MP made headlines in 2020 when he was found naked and confused late at night outside his Potts Point apartment after becoming “disoriented” at home due to the effects of previous general anesthesia.
An hour later, after escorting Mr Ward inside, police were called back to the apartment after it was reported that the then minister was wandering outside in his underwear.