Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
WA MP found guilty of child abuse disqualified
The WA parliament is set to announce that James Hayward’s South West seat is vacant after he was disqualified following his conviction for child sexual abuse.
August 29, 2023
The West Australian parliament is poised to announce that a former Nationals MP convicted of child sexual abuse has been disqualified as a member of the House and his seat is vacant.
James Dorrin Hayward, 53, was found guilty on Monday of directing an eight-year-old girl to indecently touch him on two occasions.
Under Section 32 of the WA Constitution Acts Amendment Act 1899 an MP will be disqualified from the parliament if they’ve been convicted of an offence with a penalty of more than five years imprisonment.
Hayward was convicted of two counts of indecently dealing with a child under 13, which carried a maximum penalty of 10 years.
The former pastor and television producer resigned from the WA Nationals after the charges were laid in 2021 but continued to sit in the state’s upper house as an independent MP.
The WA Electoral Commission will oversee the process to fill his vacant seat in the Legislative Council representing the South West.
Premier Roger Cook said the District Court decision would be respected
Mr Cook thanked the victims for speaking out and “standing strong”.
“These are never easy issues,” he said.
Hayward was on trial for four counts of indecently dealing with a child under 13 and acquitted by a jury after six-day trial of two counts.
He was remanded in custody for sentencing on October 16.