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Member Details

Mr Gareth James WARD, BA, BCom, LLB, LLM, GradDipLegPrac, PHF

Member Photo
Date of Birth: 28/06/1981
Place of Birth: Port Kembla, NSW, Australia
Date of Death:
Place of Death:
Parliamentary Service
Position Start End Period Notes
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services 02 Apr 2019 14 May 2021 2 years 1 month 13 days
Parliamentary Secretary for Education and the Illawarra and South Coast 24 Mar 2017 23 Mar 2019 2 years
Parliamentary Secretary 01 Feb 2017 24 Mar 2017 1 month 24 days Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra and South Coast
Parliamentary Secretary 24 Apr 2015 23 Jan 2017 1 year 9 months Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra and South Coast
Member, Standing Orders and Procedure Committee 14 May 2014 06 Mar 2015 9 months 21 days
Deputy Government Whip 06 May 2014 02 Apr 2015 10 months 28 days
Chair, Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters 19 Aug 2013 06 Mar 2015 1 year 6 months 16 days
Member, Legislation Review Committee 23 Feb 2012 23 May 2012 3 months 1 day
Member, Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters 22 Jun 2011 19 Aug 2013 2 years 1 month 29 days Elected Chair of the Committee on 19 August 2013 (see separate entry).
Temporary Speaker 06 May 2011 07 May 2014 3 years 2 days
Member for Kiama 26 Mar 2011 08 Aug 2025 14 years 4 months 14 days
Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly 26 Mar 2011 08 Aug 2025 14 years 4 months 14 days
Political Party Activity

Joined Shoalhaven Young Liberals in 1997 at age 16. 1998 - 1999 Treasurer, Shoalhaven Young Liberals. 1999 - 2000 Secretary, Shoalhaven Young Liberals. 2000 – 2009 President, Shoalhaven Young Liberals. 2000 - 2005 Secretary of the Gillmore FEC. 1999 - present Delegate, NSW Liberal Party State Council. 1999 - 2001 Member, Policy Committee of the NSW Young Liberals. 2000 - 2001 Rural and Regional Officer, NSW Young Liberals. 2001 - 2002 Membership Officer, NSW Young Liberals. 2002 - 2003 Political Officer, NSW Young Liberals. 2003 - 2005 Member, State Platform Committee of the NSW Liberal Party. 2007 - 2012 Country Representative, State Executive of the NSW Liberal Party. 2007 – 2012 Member, Rural and Regional Committee of the NSW Liberal Party. Life Member of the NSW Young Liberal Movement 2019 – present.

Community Activity

Patron, Berry Red Cross 2008 - present. Patron. State Patron, University of Wollongong Liberal Club 2011 - present. Patron, Albion Park Show Society 2010 - present. Patron, Berry Show Society 2011 - present. Member, Bomaderry Bowling Club. Patron, Kiama U3A 2011 - present. Patron, Nowra Players 2011 - present. Patron, Shoalhaven Historical Society 2011 - present. Patron, Kiama and District Historical Society 2011 - present. Patron, Shoalhaven Rugby Club 2011 - present. Harold Ambassador, Life Education New South Wales 2011 - present. Honorary Patron, Noah's Ark Centre of Shoalhanven Inc 2011 - present. Patron, Albion Park Women's Hockey Club 2012 - present. Patron, The Roo Theatre Company 2012 - present. Secretary, Bipartisan Action Committee for Bravehearts 2012 - present. Patron, Peterborough Foundation Inc 2012 - present. Patron. Patron, Nowra Croquet Club Inc 2013 - present. Patron, Gerringong Bowling and Recreation Club 2013 - present. Honorary Member, Kiama Golf Club, 2014 - present. Patron, South Coast District Cricket Association 2016 - present. Chair, Parliamentary Friends of the European Union 2015 - present.

Qualifications, occupations and interests

Bachelors of Arts and Bachelors of Commerce (University of Wollongong), Bachelors of Laws (University of New England), Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (Australian National University), Master of Laws (University of Sydney).


Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

 

Solicitor of the High Court of Australia.

 

Member of the Law Society of NSW.

 

Interests include - golf, reading and work, work, work.

Military Service
Honours Received
In 2021, Mr Ward was appointed as a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International for his services to the community and specifically the Rotary Emergency Services Community Awards.
Membership of other Parliaments & Offices Held
Local Government Activity

2004 - 2012 Councillor, Shoalhaven City Council. September 2008 to August 2010 Deputy Mayor, Shoalhaven City Council.

Executive Member, NSW Local Government Association (2008-2011).

Mr Ward was a member of the One Association Taskforce responsible for merging the NSW Local Government Association and Shires Association in 2010.

Personal
Additional Information

The Parliament of New South Wales acknowledges and respects the traditional lands of all Aboriginal people, and pays respects to all Elders past and present. We acknowledge the Gadigal people as the traditional custodians of the land on which the Parliament of New South Wales stands.