The hapless Western Australian Liberals have a new leader after incumbent Paul Omodei stepped aside at today’s party room meeting. His successor is Vasse MP Troy Buswell (right), who just five days ago told the media he needed “more experience in the House and more time to develop before I could be considered for that position”. This was prompted by a now celebrated display of tired and emotional behaviour in parliament last October, which culminated in him pulling on the bra strap of a Labor staffer in the Speaker’s office. News of this episode came to light courtesy of a letter to the Albany Advertiser by Paul Omodei’s electorate officer Ron Scott, whom Omodei has refused to dismiss. Carine MP Katie Hodson-Thomas (who today made a surprise announcement she would retire at the coming election) subsequently complained of being subjected to “inappropriate” remarks from Buswell in the presence of male colleagues, with other unnamed Liberals suggesting he had a “reputation” for such behaviour.
These developments appeared to put an end to months of leadership jockeying by Buswell, who by all accounts had the numbers to dislodge Omodei (left) following a series of bad opinion polls and a disastrous performance in last February’s Peel by-election. The West Australian responded with an editorial on Monday arguing that the party “must persuade Troy Buswell that while his behaviour in Parliament last October was juvenile, stupid and not befitting of a member of Parliament, it was not so reprehensible that he need rule himself out of leadership contention” – a line which evidently echoed the feeling in the party room. The West’s Robert Taylor reported on a “tense one-hour meeting” on Tuesday at which Omodei and Buswell agreed that the issue would be resolved at today’s party meeting, which nobody doubted would result in Buswell assuming the leadership if he chose to contest it.
Buswell’s rocky rise to the top comes just three years after he entered parliament at the February 2005 state election as member for Vasse, where he won preselection at the expense of sitting member Bernie Masters. Masters ran against Buswell as an independent and came within 209 votes of defeating him. Buswell went on to play a key role in the dumping of Matt Birney, who led the party for a year after the 2005 election and recently announced he would not contest the coming election. It was widely believed in the party that Buswell had pledged his vote to Birney but subsequently voted for Omodei, who prevailed by one vote in an outcome the Liberals would have little cause to celebrate in hindsight. High-profile Hillarys MP Rob Johnson, who stood against Buswell in today’s leadership vote (there has been no word on the result of the count), said at the time: “His cowardly and gutless disloyalty will be the start of his demise and I think you will find the shining star of Troy Buswell will diminish over the coming months. Let me tell you, if he is the future of the Liberal Party then God help the Liberal Party.”
Robert Taylor wrote in The West this week that Buswell’s strategy was to unite members of his own faction, which is associated with current Senators Chris Ellison and Mathias Cormann and the recently departed Ian Campbell, with the opposing Noel Crichton-Browne camp. This has been achieved through an alliance with party upper house leader Norman Moore, who is “strongly identified” with Crichton-Browne. Taylor reported that Moore was “expected to retire at the next election but is now on the verge of going around for another four years”, sending “a strong message to those MPs still furious with Mr Buswell over his support for Mr Omodei in his battle with Mr Birney”.
It would be something of an understatement to say that the plot has not come to fruition under the happiest of circumstances. The ABC reported that today’s leadership vote was delayed 25 minutes while the party awaited the arrival of Murdoch MP Trevor Sprigg (right). It was then held without him after news arrived he was being hospitalised after a suspected heart attack. Half an hour later, the ABC reported that Sprigg had died. Buswell now faces an immediate test of his electoral appeal in the reasonably safe southern suburbs seat of Murdoch, where the newcomer Sprigg boosted the party’s margin from 4.1 per cent to 5.9 per cent at the February 2005 election. Murdoch will be abolished as of the next election due to the one-vote one-value redistribution, to be replaced by the new seat of Bateman. According to Antony Green’s calculations, the Liberal margin in the new seat is 6.9 per cent. The map belows shows the old (green) and new (red) boundaries with booth results from the 2005 election.
UPDATE: The West Australian “understands” that the result of the ballot was 17 votes for Troy Buswell and 10 for Rob Johnson, “with one MP scrawling the name Paul Omodei on the ballot”. It also observes that Nedlands MP and Shadow Attorney-General Sue Walker was absent from the meeting, “fuelling speculation that she intends to run for her seat of Nedlands as an independent at the next election”.
It would be see how the female vote will account for the Lib vote, considering Troy’s behaviour in the house, especially considering Katie Hodson-Thomas’s shock anouncement of her retirement, just hours before the Party Room meeting.
Will this result in the other female LIbs also reconsider their political future ?
[It would be see how the female vote will account for the Lib vote]
That sentence should read “It would be interesting to see how the female vote will account for the Libs retaining the seat”.
When you say “culminated in him snapping the bra strap”, does this mean he pulled the bra strap and then let it “snap” back like a rubber band, or does this mean he pulled the bra strap until it snapped in two? In other words, was he playing a schoolboy game, or was he attempting to remove the bra? I would have thought the latter was a rather more serious matter, though my knowledge of both bras and the ethical standards of WA politics is rather limited.
Apparently it’s a “Party Trick which involves undoing a bra strap with a single hand.
I believe this is the trick concerned.
http://www.videojug.com/route.ashx/film/how-to-undo-her-bra-with-one-hand
Liberal lads would probably practise this ‘party trick’ on store dummies at their private schools!
[Liberal lads would probably practise this ‘party trick’ on store dummies at their private schools!]
Or at the next “Mixed” school social with their neighbouring “Girl’s School”
Dear me, things I’d rather not have known.
The key point seems to be the presence of a “willing partner”. If the person wearing the bra was not willing, how is this not a common or garden sexual assault?
Adam: Whatever it was, it was sexual harrasment and he should have been arrested and charged.
Such men, especially in high profile positions, need to be held accountable for sexism and misogyny.
It starts with snapping a bra and can end with assult and rape.
[The key point seems to be the presence of a “willing partner”. If the person wearing the bra was not willing, how is this not a common or garden sexual assault?]
apparently the ALP Staffer (a member of Fred Reibling- The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly) staff apparently wasn’t offended by it, and didn’t want to take the matter further.
The fact that he was pissed and missed a few votges, is the key issue here, plus he made an adcvance to Rob Johnson – who is very homophobic, as witnessed here.
http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/hansard/hans35.nsf/NFS/a8dbbfb5ee68980648256b22002ad80f?OpenDocument
Bugger, they moved the link on us , but basically he has an unhealthy obsession with Homosexual Advances, which apparently he was subject to in the UK, plus about Beastiality as well.
Frank, I think I am going to faint!
Frank
Dont’ tell me he snapped Rob’s bra too? (thanks for the link by the way, hilarious site) and what was Rob doing wearing a bra?
Didn’t NCB have some sort of scandal involving breasts as well? What is it with politicians over there?
[Frank
Dont’ tell me he snapped Rob’s bra too? (thanks for the link by the way, hilarious site) and what was Rob doing wearing a bra?]
Nah, Troy tried to kiss Rob 🙂
Pity I can’t find the link to Rob’s rant.
Adam,
Yes, NCB does have a reputation for Breasts.
[Dishing private dirt did manage to bring down Senator Noel Crichton-Browne. The hard right Liberal powerbroker was a deeply disliked, divisive figure in his own party. But he had been able to hold on to power through several challenges until Liberal party opponents obtained an apprehended violence order showing he had bashed his wife, Esther. The grim details surfaced in this newspaper and spread through the press.
At that time, Crichton-Browne’s reputation was also being battered by news that he’d told a journalist at the 1995 Liberal Party state conference in Perth that he planned to “screw her tits off”. Crichton-Browne’s ghost lingers on, but after that he was out of the party.]
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/09/02/1125302747507.html
Adam, I have change “snapping” to “pulling on”.
The former Senator Noel Crichton-Browne was such a charmer. Notice how the Brown has an ‘e’ on the end!
William, your concern for terminological exactitude is very admirable.
Obviously the standards of behaviour among WA conservatives have declined since my great-grandfather’s day.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Butcher
I doubt he snapped anyone’s bra, or tried to kiss any of his colleagues.
Frank
Link to Rob’s speeches that you were talking about, first 2 are great, almost Cleese type, or a Python sketch
http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/web/newwebparl.nsf/iframewebpages/Hansard+-+Advanced+Search
javascript:addHighlightToURL(‘NFS/a6c803615f0e4d72c82573a60023deb0?OpenDocument’)
javascript:addHighlightToURL(‘NFS/fb4ee49ed190cf5d48256f3c001e6857?OpenDocument’)
I will have to fix the links up as it only goes to the index, will repost.
Kissing a male colleague is OK, air kiss ala Europe, cheek kiss like the French or lip kiss like the eastern Europeans. Acutally knew a member of parliament who would greet his close friend with a kiss on the lips. Worry is if there is tongue involved, should not be any tongue.
1
Frank Calabrese – if Kevin Rudd can go to a strip joint whilst representing Australia overseas and win an election with a boost in the female vote i hardly think what Troy did will cost him many votes!
All Troy has to do is present a clear a positive alternative to Carpenter and he’ll win the upcoming election especially considering how on the nose the ALP are in WA State politics what with the Brian Burke corruption scandal. Many in WA are looking for a reason to punish Labor but as yet have not found an attractive alternative.
Vale Trevor Sprigg
[Frank Calabrese – if Kevin Rudd can go to a strip joint whilst representing Australia overseas and win an election with a boost in the female vote i hardly think what Troy did will cost him many votes!]
Umm, BIG Differeence, the offences took place IN the Parliament – totally different to a night on the town.
Johnson in Hansard
http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/web/newwebparl.nsf/iframewebpages/Hansard+-+Advanced+Search
I think it’s a bit narrow-minded to start saying that we shouldn’t be exploiting women. Look, it’s going to happen anyway . . .
Johnson again
If some drop kick in this country or world wants to have sex with an animal, one must question what sort of brain is in his head. I do not condone it for one minute. However, if someone is stupid and brainless enough to have sex with an animal, he is not affecting a child. It is not an offence against a child, nor is it a violent offence.
http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/web/newwebparl.nsf/iframewebpages/Hansard+-+Advanced+Search
Classic
[All Troy has to do is present a clear a positive alternative to Carpenter and he’ll win the upcoming election especially considering how on the nose the ALP are in WA State politics what with the Brian Burke corruption scandal. Many in WA are looking for a reason to punish Labor but as yet have not found an attractive alternative.]
But didn’t Labor INCREASE their vote in the Peel By-Election at the HEIGHT of the Burke Scandal, which of course involved Troy’s good Friend NCB, plus the fact that Buswell was Busselton Shire President at the height of the Smiths Beach Development.
22
Frank Calabrese – i dont see the difference Rudd was representing Australia overseas and went to a strip joint and Troy Buswell was representing his constituents as an MP. They were both representatives and they both made big mistakes which is worse the fact we have a PM who went to a strip joint to curry favour with big wigs in NY or a bloke who had a few too many one night and made a fool of himself…neither is good but if Rudd can get away with it Buswell can IMHO.
24
Frank Calabrese – that was no achievement in Peel, Omodei was a joke!
Which party had 3 Ministers resign for corruption i believe it was the ALP, they deserve to be kicked out of office IMHO and with a positive alternative they will IMHO!
[they deserve to be kicked out of office IMHO and with a positive alternative they will IMHO!]
Keep Dreaming Glen, you’ll get wrong, just like in the Federal Election.
If Buswell thinks his party trick is OK why doesn’t he try it on Julie Bishop next time the two of them appear at a press conference or even on Liz next time she comes to visit. Maybe that is what Paul was thinking, free the corgis but Liz probably had a front fastening one.
But these sort of blokes who have a history, and remember it is the libs saying he has a “reputation” never try their tricks on someone senior to them, that’s why I’d like him to try it on Julie, just to show he is a blokes bloke and just having harmless fun.
I don’t think your opinion is humble if you choose to say “IMHO” twice in one sentence.
Oh and Glen,
May I also remind you of one Antony Fels, who has refused to resign over his role in the Burke & Grill affair.
At least Carpenter acted quickly when those involved with the CCC were found to have acted improperly, unlike Mr Fels, who I believe has refused to resign, or indeed be sacked.
Talk about double standards.
[If Buswell thinks his party trick is OK why doesn’t he try it on Julie Bishop next time the two of them appear at a press conference ]
Watch out Arby, Glen, the No 1 Ticket holder of the Julie Bishop Fan Club won’t like that comment, or the one involving Mrs E Windsor of Buck Palace.
Arbie he’s only been in Parliament since 2005 at the time he would have been a junior MP at the time maybes he’s just a show off that Kevin Rudd!
And Frank when it comes to double standards look no further than the ALP of course those corrupt Ministers had to resign if he hadn’t of the Governor may have sacked his Government.
Once more Frank how come Alan failed to get Shelley Archer to resign from Parliament?????? Why because he’s a weak and pathetic premier who has lost alot of credibility over his government being one of the most corrupt in Australian history thanks to Brian Burke. And anyway Omodei had Fels step down from his portfolio and this was one guy and not half a dozen that were involved with Brian Burke.
Nuff said!
Umm, Archer resigned from the PARTY, and Carpenter attempted to get Archer expelled, but she was protected by your mates in the Liberal Party, PLUS the Green
You can’t simply claim victory in an argument by saying “Nuff said!”, Glenn.
Oh, and speaking of Corruption, there were some VERY dodgy dealings being done by Richard Court which involved both he and his Brother having conflicts of interest.
Canal Barnett turned a blind eye apparently.
http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/stories/s112654.htm
I suppose instead of accepting the fact that the WA ALP have been corrupt in the past is not acceptable to the rank and file eh Frank. WA will be the first State to fall then possibly NSW but WA is going Blue and either this year or next either way i believe Carpenter is on the way out i mean with Omodei and with ongoing leadership tensions we were still 51-49 ahead of the ALP now without Omodei we’ll be much higher.
I never meant to claim victory Andos i merely stated that the facts speak for themselves i’ve given the details of Franks blatant hypocrisy in saying the Libs are hypocrites because of not getting Fels to resign from Parliament yet Carpenter couldnt get Archer to resign either…nuff said!
Glen,
The WA Liberals will NOT win, One Vote One Value, and NO Coalition with the Nats will see to that.
Oh and Party Troy has done himself no favours either.
One vote One value doesn’t mean the Conservatives wont win i expect big swings against such a corrupt and incompetent Government so i believe the ALP are heading for defeat.
Also by then we may have a single Conservative Party across the country hence no fighting over One Vote One Value.
Oh and Party Troy’s seat is one of the lib’s most Marginal at 0.9%
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollbludger/wa2005.htm#vasse
And this time it will be a 3 way Contest, as in most rural seats.
Glen,
Keep Dreaming. The Current Libs are Basket Cases, but of course you’d believe what The West write without question – they’re basically a Liberal Party Newsletter.
Frank Calabrese: I don’t think Glen is dreaming at all. There are very serious questions about the competence and therefore the longevity of an ALP government in Western Australia. If you are a barracker for the Australian Labor Party, you would do well to ponder how Alan Carpenter or anyone else as leader, will make a decent case for the return of the present (tired) government when an election is held. I do not think the ALP will be able to rely on ‘inadequacies’ of leadership in the other mob to get it over the line next time.
david charles,
My Comments to Glen also apply to you – The WA Liberals are a Rabble, have coalition with the Nationalds, and One Vote, One Value favours the ALP.
If you believe the Libs can win from here, then I have a nice bridge for sale.
That should read NO coalition with the Nationals
wow. only glen could conflate going to a strip club with sexual assault. why it’s almost as incredible as conflating saddam and osama! bit of an issue you lot have eh?
FC perhaps we are all dreaming. Nothing wrong with that as long as none of us take ourselves too seriously.
Frank @ 42,
All this hubris is deliciously reminiscent of the followers of any number of “invincible” governments we could all name. Governments all get voted out in the end.
Sure, the WA Libs seem hopeless. Nevertheless Carpenter and co aren’t too flash either, and would do well to lift their game in my opinion.
Gam (44) you are going to have to come up with something better than ‘you lot’ and sorry, who is it with an ‘issue’?
How any of you can predict an election result this far out is beyond me. You are all dreaming. Issues and people come and go. Get real.
Speaking of Rob Johnson and the missing story, it seems the 2001 Hansards are MIA atm, but here is a news item relating to his Gay Advances 🙂
http://www.galewa.asn.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=351&Itemid=2
WA politics really is something. How Brian Burke and Noel Chrichton-Browne (the Tweedledum and Tweedledee of WA sleaze) could maintain such a level of influence long after their respective public humiliations really speaks volumes for the place. It seems that Alan Carpenter and Jim McGinty are the only people on the WA politics-media scene with two braincells to rub together.
Troy Buswell’s craaazy antics aren’t a good start, but let’s take a look at his predecessors. Can he be worse than them? He’ll have to try pretty hard…
Colin Barnett – decided that building great big water canal was a sure-fire election winner. But how would he pay for it? Answer: Um, well, the Federal govt would surely help out their WA mates by footing the bill. Cue Peter Costello delivering a very public NO to the whole idea.
Matt Birney – celebrated elevation to leader by unburdening himself of a few wacky thoughts on the Pope. And that’s about all he achieved.
Paul Omodei – claim to fame: shot his son in the hand.