Member for Kiama Gareth Ward is in the spotlight today after national media outlets reported on a visit he took to parliament at 4am in his underwear, maintaining that he was collecting a spare key after being locked out of his apartment.

The Daily Telegraph reported on Wednesday that a parliamentary security report claimed Ward arrived at Parliament on 21 July around 4am wearing only a t-shirt, underwear and socks.

The Bugle spoke directly with Mr Ward, who expressed that the incident has been exaggerated. He denied there being any alcohol involved and no gash on his forehead as reported. Ward says the incident was a simple case of being locked out of his home. 

“Having been awoken by a noise at the rear of my apartment, I inadvertently locked myself out of my property in the early hours of 21 July.”

Ward claims he made the trip to parliament in an attempt to regain access to his home by means of a spare key left there in case of emergencies. 

“Given it was freezing at around 4am in July, with no prospect of getting a locksmith, not having my phone, and with my property around eight minutes walk to Parliament, I went to Parliament to get my spare key.”

Ward encountered a security guard on arrival who he claims provided him access to the building.

“The imputation that I was drunk is wrong,” Ward said today addressing the accusations. 

“The imputations in these questions are defamatory. This is the kind of gutter journalism that causes public trust in some journalists to reach an all-time low.”

Ward dismissed the situation as an overblown media spectacle, stating, “I will be making no further comment.” For him, it’s back to business as usual.

Gareth Ward has represented the seat of Kiama in the NSW Legislative Assembly since 2011. 

The Bugle has heard that the matter is being referred to the Privilege and Ethics Committee, since the story was leaked to the media.