Natalie Peta Ward is an Australian politician. Ward is the Minister for Metropolitan Roads and Minister for Women's Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence in the

Perrottet ministry The Second Perrottet ministry or Second Perrottet–Toole ministry is the 99th ministry of the Government of New South Wales, and is led by Dominic Perrottet, the state's 46th Premier. The Liberal– National coalition ministry was formed on ...

, since December 2021. She has been a

Liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...

member of the New South Wales Legislative Council since 21 November 2017, when she filled a casual vacancy caused by the resignation of The Hon. Greg Pearce. Ward had previously served as the

Minister for Sport, Multiculturalism, Seniors and Veterans The Minister for Sport is a Minister of the Crown, minister in the Government of New South Wales with responsibilities for the administration and support for all sporting bodies in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It has often been combi ...

in the

second Berejiklian ministry The second (symbol: s) is the unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), historically defined as of a day – this factor derived from the division of the day first into 24 hours, then to 60 minutes and finally to 60 seconds each ...

and the first arrangement of the Perrottet ministry between May and December 2021. Prior to her appointment to the ministry, Ward served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney General and Chaired the Joint Select Committee on Coercive Control and the Joint Select Committee on Sydney's Night Time Economy. Ward is a commercial litigation lawyer of 20 years practice in large commercial firms, boutique practice and government regulatory financial services areas. She served on the board of Women Lawyers and is a member of the Rotary Club of Sydney. She is a former director of Australian Rugby Foundation. Ward was formerly deputy chief of staff to NSW Minister for Finance and Services and Minister for the Illawarra, Greg Pearce. Her husband, David Begg, is a commercial lawyer and former president of Sydney Rugby Union. Ward wanted to move to the Legislative Assembly at the

2023 New South Wales state election The 2023 New South Wales state election will be held on 25 March 2023 to elect the 58th Parliament of New South Wales, including all 93 seats in the Legislative Assembly and 21 of the 42 seats in the Legislative Council. The election will be ...

, but in a preselection contest for the ultra-safe Liberal seat of

Davidson Davidson may refer to: * Davidson (name) * Clan Davidson, a Highland Scottish clan * Davidson Media Group * Davidson Seamount, undersea mountain southwest of Monterey, California, USA * Tyler Davidson Fountain, monument in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA * ...

, in Sydney’s northern suburbs, she was defeated by Matt Cross, a former staff member for

Mike Baird Michael Bruce Baird (born 1 April 1968) is an Australian investment banker and former politician who was the 44th Premier of New South Wales, the Minister for Infrastructure, the Minister for Western Sydney, and the Leader of the New South W ...

References

Living people Members of the New South Wales Legislative Council Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of New South Wales University of Adelaide alumni Australian solicitors Australian people of Welsh descent Year of birth missing (living people) 21st-century Australian politicians {{Australia-Liberal-politician-stub