Gareth Ward, the newly re-elected independent member for Kiama, will have to wait until next Thursday, 13 April, to hear whether he will have the historic sexual assault charges heard together and where the trial/s will be held.

Mr Ward’s barrister, David Campbell, argued the cases should be separated given the two complainants involved and that they should be heard in Nowra.

The Crown contends all of the charges should be heard together in Sydney.

Police allege he indecently assaulted a 17 year old boy at Meroo Meadow in February 2013 and raped a man in his mid-20s in Sydney in September 2015.

Mr Ward strenuously denies the allegations and pleaded not guilty in the Nowra District Court last week.

Should the charges be separated, the Crown would have to choose which should be heard first.

Yesterday Premier Chris Minns said he would refer the matter of Mr Ward again being suspended from Parliament to the Privileges Committee of the Legislative Assembly.

“They are going to have to take into consideration the likely appeal from Mr Ward to any suspension as well as whether he will bring the house into disrepute, and of course the decision of the electors of Kiama [in re-electing him].

“That was the set of circumstances that the previous Government imposed prior in the last Parliament, and we believe it is the right place for due process to apply as it relates to Mr Ward.”