NSW State MP Resigns After Being Charged With 10 Sexual Offences

NSW Liberal candidate for Pittwater Rory Amon speaks to the media during a press conference at Mona Vale Beach in Sydney on Feb. 15, 2023. AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi

New South Wales (NSW) Liberal MP for Pittwater, Rory Amon, resigned from parliament on Aug. 30 after being charged with 10 alleged historical sexual offences in 2017.

Amon, 35, faces five counts of alleged sex with a child between the ages of 10 and 14 years, and sexual assault of a person under 16 in Mona Vale, Sydney.

He was also charged with committing an act of indecency with a person under 16 years.

The resignation will trigger a by-election in the NSW seat on Sydney’s northern beaches, which has a strong teal presence at the Federal level. Amon narrowly won the seat by 0.7 percent against teal independent Jacqui Scruby at the 2023 state election.

Amon, who was the party’s shadow assistant minister for youth, confirmed in a statement he had been charged in relation to events alleged to have taken place in 2017.

“I deny all charges, and will make my case in the courts, not in the media. Accordingly, I will make no further comment on the case,” he said.

He said the nature of the charges against him is such that he will be unable to continue to fully represent his community in Parliament.

“As a result, I have tendered my resignation as the Member for Pittwater, effective immediately,” he said.

“The people of Pittwater should have a representative who can dedicate one hundred percent of their time to advocating for this wonderful community. As I defend myself against these charges, I will not be able to devote my full energy to representing them.”

The NSW Liberal Party has already taken down Amon’s page on the state parliamentary team website. Amon’s Instagram page also appears to have been deactivated.

In response to questions from the Epoch Times about the charges against Amon, NSW Police said, “The matter is now before the Court, we won’t be making any further comment.”

Earlier in the afternoon, NSW Police said a 35-year-old man had been charged following an investigation into an alleged sexual assault on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

“In June 2022, Detectives attached to Northern Beaches Police Area Command commenced an investigation following reports of an alleged sexual assault in Mona Vale in July 2017,” NSW Police said.

“Police were told a teenage boy was allegedly sexually assaulted by a man—who was known to him—at an address in Mona Vale.

In March 2023, Strike Force NOORAL was established to investigate the incident. Following extensive inquiries, a 35-year-old man was arrested at Manly Police Station at about 6 a.m. on Aug. 30.

Amon was given strict conditional bail to appear at Manly Local Court on Sept. 18, 2024.

Liberal Opposition Leader Reacts

Meanwhile, NSW Liberal Opposition leader Mark Speakman said the charges against Amon were extremely serious.

“The alleged conduct strikes at the heart of the standards expected of Members of Parliament,” he said in a statement to reporters.

“Upon learning of these charges, I asked for and received Mr Amon’s immediate resignation from the Liberal Party.”

Speakman said while Amon was entitled to the presumption of innocence, a criminal trial would be some time away.

“In the meantime, the citizens of Pittwater are entitled to have a Member of Parliament who can discharge their duties in the community fully,” he said.

“I therefore also asked Mr Amon to resign from the New South Wales Parliament, effective immediately. He has tendered his resignation to the Speaker.”