Rory Amon: Pittwater MP quits parliament, charged with child sexual assault offences

The NSW Liberal MP charged with 10 child sexual assault offences against a teenage boy after an investigation on Sydney’s northern beaches has broken his silence after quitting Parliament.

Pittwater MP Roderick ‘Rory’ Gilmore Amon was arrested on Friday morning and charged with five counts of sexual intercourse with a person aged over 10 and under 14 and two counts of attempted sexual intercourse with a child over 10 and under 14.

He was also charged with two counts of indecent assault on a person under 16, and committing an act of indecency with a person under 16.

The 35-year-old said in a statement on Friday afternoon that he denied all charges and would resign from state parliament as the member for Pittwater.

“I deny all charges and will make my case in the courts, not in the media,” Amon said.

“The nature of the charges against me are such that I will be unable to continue to fully represent my community in parliament.

“The people of Pittwater should have a representative who can dedicate 100 per cent of their time 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.”

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

Amon has also resigned from the Liberal Party.

NSW Liberal leader Mark Speakman said he asked for the 35-year-old’s immediate resignation after learning of the “extremely serious” charges.

“The alleged conduct strikes at the heart of the standards expected of members of parliament,” Mr Speakman said in a statement on Friday

“While Mr Amon is entitled to the presumption of innocence, a criminal trial will be some time away and in the meantime the citizens of Pittwater are entitled to have a Member of Parliament who can discharge their duties in the community full.”

Detectives started an investigation in June 2022 after reports of an alleged sexual assault in Mona Vale, which is within Amon’s electorate on Sydney’s northern beaches, in July 2017.

Police were told a teenage boy was allegedly sexually assaulted by a man known to him.

A strike force was set up in March 2023, the same month as the state election took place.

Amon was arrested at Manly Police Station at about 6am on Friday. He was granted bail with strict conditions and is scheduled to appear at Manly Local Court on September 18.

His lawyers initially applied for a suppression order to shield his identity but later withdrew that bid.

Their client was elected to the seat of Pittwater in March 2023 by a narrow margin, and despite being a contentious pick for the blue ribbon seat.

He was preselected to replace former planning minister Rob Stokes for the Liberals at the election, despite Mr Stokes reportedly preferring a woman make the ticket.

Mr Stokes told the Sydney Morning Herald he “had absolutely no knowledge of the allegations” against Amon.

“If I had, I would have contacted police.”

After the election, Amon was appointed the shadow assistant minister for transport and roads, infrastructure and youth.

Before his tilt at state politics, Amon was a councillor for the Northern Beaches, elected in 2017.

According to his website, which has since been deactivated, he formerly worked as a family lawyer, helping clients navigate family breakdowns and worked with victims of domestic and family violence.

His exit will trigger a third by-election for NSW voters — after former Liberal treasurer Matt Kean announced his resignation as the MP for Hornsby in June, and former premier Dominic Perrottet announced in July he would step down from his Epping seat.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028

— with AAP