Troy Buswell
Encyclopedia
Troy Raymond Buswell (born 19 March 1966) is currently the Liberal
member for the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
seat of Vasse
, and the Minister for Transport and Minister for Housing. He was Leader of the Opposition
for several months in 2008, then served as Treasurer of Western Australia
in the Barnett
Liberal minority government
for 19 months. He resigned from the ministry on 27 April 2010 following allegations of improper use of ministerial allowances during his affair with WA Greens and Fremantle MLA Adele Carles. He was re-appointed to the ministry on 14 December 2010 as Minister for Transport and Minister for Housing.
, Western Australia
. He was educated at Busselton Senior High School
and later attained a Bachelor of Economics at University of Western Australia
, where in 1986 he won the W.G. Salter Memorial Prize in Economics, which is awarded annually to the top student enrolled for the degree of Bachelor of Economics.
In 1992, he became the director of Villa Carlotta Group, which provided bus tours in the Busselton
region, and also became involved with the Cape Naturaliste Tourism Association. On 14 November 1992, he married Margaret Cummins, with whom he had two sons Jacob and Samuel.
He served as a councillor with the Shire of Busselton in 1995–1996, and again in 2001–2003, before becoming its Shire President at the 2003 local government elections. He stepped down to contest the state election
for the Liberal Party
in the seat of Vasse
, which is centred on Busselton. Some controversy arose over his preselection as he was chosen over the sitting member, Bernie Masters
, who blamed then-deputy leader Dan Sullivan
for the decision, quit the party and ran for the seat as an independent. However, Buswell won the contest by 209 votes.
in October 2005, Buswell was elected by the party room to replace Omodei in the role, serving under Matt Birney
.
By August 2007, polling numbers had fallen below 14%, and media commentators speculated that Omodei would be toppled and replaced with Buswell within six months if he could not improve polling by the end of the year. However, Buswell was being investigated by the Corruption and Crime Commission
over allegations that he had met former Liberal powerbroker Noel Crichton-Browne
, who was working as a lobbyist in conjunction with former premier Brian Burke
, in a carpark to discuss the Canal Rocks development at Smiths Beach in Yallingup
while he was still mayor of Busselton. On 9 October 2007, he was cleared by the CCC of any wrongdoing and pressure upon Omodei immediately increased. Former party leader Colin Barnett
, however, dismissed its significance, claiming Buswell would lead the Liberal Party at some future point but did not yet have the experience.
On 28 November 2007, just after the 2007 federal election which saw a new Labor
government under Kevin Rudd
come into power, rumours of a push within the Liberal Party to install Buswell as state leader were reported in the media. Omodei, however, promised to "land a good right hook" on anyone asking him to stand aside, and asked for a "fair go" while announcing a swathe of new policies for the Party going forward. On 23 December 2007, it was reported that Buswell was moving his family to Shenton Park
in Perth's
inner western suburbs due to lengthy periods of time away from his family.
.
In the following media conference, he refused to comment on allegations relating to a drunken night at parliament, where he snapped the back of a female Labor party staffer's bra-strap as a "party trick", and other "inappropriate and sexist behaviour".
On 27 April 2008 further allegations were published, these included the sniffing of a chair of a female Liberal staffer as well as claims he crawled around on his hands and knees pretending to be the staffer's husband. Buswell first refused to deny the allegations, and then subsequently admitted to the act. The woman later revealed Buswell "was groaning and writhing in sexual pleasure".
As well as these incidents, Buswell has been accused by retiring Liberal MLA for Carine
, Katie Hodson-Thomas
, of making sexist remarks to her.
MLA for Roe
Graham Jacobs
called for a leadership spill motion, which took place on 5 May 2008, but the motion failed and Buswell remained leader.
Revelations also came out of Buswell "squirrel gripping" (grabbing the testicles of) Liberal MLA Murray Cowper
in parliament. Cowper did not deny the incident, saying "As far as I'm concerned the matter's dead and it's time for everyone to move on, the media included."
Buswell faced a fresh crisis when it was revealed in a Corruption and Crime Commission
(CCC) report on 10 June 2008 that a motion moved in Parliament by his staunchest backer, Shadow Minister for Road Safety John McGrath
, had been provided to him by lobbyists Brian Burke
and Julian Grill
. Burke had written the motion on behalf of a company that sold radar detectors. The CCC report said Mr McGrath's claim he was unaware of Burke's commercial interest in the issue strained credibility. Buswell backed McGrath by claiming that he had been cleared of misconduct while McGrath refused to stand down.
Three days later, Buswell sacked the Shadow Police Minister Rob Johnson
after Johnson said he could not serve in the Shadow Cabinet with McGrath as Shadow Minister for Road Safety.
Buswell resigned as Liberal leader and leader of the opposition on 4 August 2008. He was replaced by Colin Barnett
.
in September 2008, where the incumbent Labor government was defeated and the National Party agreed to vote with the Liberal Party in the hung parliament
, Buswell was named as Treasurer in Colin Barnett's new Cabinet.
On 24 April 2010, Greens MP Adele Carles
publicly stated that Buswell and herself had been engaged in an affair that lasted several months. Buswell himself gave a public statement on 26 April confirming this and that he had used a ministerial car and a government credit card to pay for accommodation for himself and Carles. On 27 April, the premier demanded, and obtained, his resignation as a member of the ministry, although Buswell continued as the member for Vasse.
Buswell was cleared of any miused of public entitlements by Public Sector Commissioner Mal Wauchope's report which was tabled to state parliament by premier Colin Barnett
on 23 June 2010. The premier indicated that Buswell would not be considered for a cabinet position until the end of the year. He was re-appointed to the ministry as Minister for Transport and Minister for Housing on 14 December 2010.
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
member for the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
Western Australian Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Perth....
seat of Vasse
Electoral district of Vasse
-External links:* ABC Election Profiles: * WAEC District Maps:...
, and the Minister for Transport and Minister for Housing. He was Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Opposition (Western Australia)
The Leader of the Opposition in Western Australia is the leader of the largest minority political party or coalition of parties in the Legislative Assembly of the Parliament of Western Australia. By convention, he or she is generally a member of the Legislative Assembly...
for several months in 2008, then served as Treasurer of Western Australia
Treasurer of Western Australia
The Treasurer of the State of Western Australia is the title held by the Cabinet Minister who is responsible for the management of Western Australia's public sector finances, and for preparing and delivering the annual State Budget...
in the Barnett
Barnett Ministry
The Barnett Ministry is the 35th and current Ministry of the Government of Western Australia. It includes 13 members of the Liberal Party, three members of the National Party of Western Australia and an independent. It is led by the Premier of Western Australia, Colin Barnett, and Deputy Premier Dr...
Liberal minority government
Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
for 19 months. He resigned from the ministry on 27 April 2010 following allegations of improper use of ministerial allowances during his affair with WA Greens and Fremantle MLA Adele Carles. He was re-appointed to the ministry on 14 December 2010 as Minister for Transport and Minister for Housing.
Biography
Buswell was born in the regional city of BunburyBunbury, Western Australia
The port city of Bunbury is the third largest city in Western Australia after the State Capital Perth and Mandurah. It is situated south of Perth's central business district...
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. He was educated at Busselton Senior High School
Busselton Senior High School
Busselton Senior High School is a comprehensive public high school located in Busselton, a regional centre south of Perth, Western Australia....
and later attained a Bachelor of Economics at University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
, where in 1986 he won the W.G. Salter Memorial Prize in Economics, which is awarded annually to the top student enrolled for the degree of Bachelor of Economics.
In 1992, he became the director of Villa Carlotta Group, which provided bus tours in the Busselton
Busselton, Western Australia
-Growth and development:According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics the Shire had a permanent resident population of 25,950 in 2004 with the town of Busselton accounting for 67% or 17,400 of the total. The Shire's permanent population is expected to continue to increase significantly to...
region, and also became involved with the Cape Naturaliste Tourism Association. On 14 November 1992, he married Margaret Cummins, with whom he had two sons Jacob and Samuel.
He served as a councillor with the Shire of Busselton in 1995–1996, and again in 2001–2003, before becoming its Shire President at the 2003 local government elections. He stepped down to contest the state election
Western Australian state election, 2005
Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 26 February 2005 to elect all 57 members to the Legislative Assembly and all 34 members to the Legislative Council...
for the Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
in the seat of Vasse
Electoral district of Vasse
-External links:* ABC Election Profiles: * WAEC District Maps:...
, which is centred on Busselton. Some controversy arose over his preselection as he was chosen over the sitting member, Bernie Masters
Bernie Masters
Bernard Kent "Bernie" Masters is a former Australian politician.Masters was born in Perth and worked as a geological and environmental consultant before entering politics. He was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly in 1996 as the Liberal member for Vasse...
, who blamed then-deputy leader Dan Sullivan
Dan Sullivan (politician)
Daniel "Dan" Frank Barron-Sullivan is an Australian former politician.-Political career:He was a Liberal member and later an independent member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Mitchell now known as the electorate of Leschenault from December 1996 to...
for the decision, quit the party and ran for the seat as an independent. However, Buswell won the contest by 209 votes.
Deputy leadership
With the unexpected resignation of Deputy Opposition Leader Paul OmodeiPaul Omodei
Paul Domenic Omodei , Australian politician, was the leader of the Liberal Party and Leader of the Opposition in Western Australia from 24 March 2006 until 17 January 2008....
in October 2005, Buswell was elected by the party room to replace Omodei in the role, serving under Matt Birney
Matt Birney
Matthew John Birney is an Australian politician. He was a Liberal member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 2001 to 2008, serving as Leader of the Opposition from 2005 to 2006....
.
By August 2007, polling numbers had fallen below 14%, and media commentators speculated that Omodei would be toppled and replaced with Buswell within six months if he could not improve polling by the end of the year. However, Buswell was being investigated by the Corruption and Crime Commission
Corruption and Crime Commission
The Corruption and Crime Commission is a permanent investigative commission established by the Government of Western Australia in 2003, largely as a result of the findings of a Royal Commission into the state's police service. Its role is to investigate public corruption...
over allegations that he had met former Liberal powerbroker Noel Crichton-Browne
Noel Crichton-Browne
Noel Ashley Crichton-Browne is a former member of the Australian Senate and political lobbyist.He attended Scotch College, Perth....
, who was working as a lobbyist in conjunction with former premier Brian Burke
Brian Burke
Brian Thomas Burke was Labor premier of Western Australia from 25 February 1983 until his resignation on 25 February 1988...
, in a carpark to discuss the Canal Rocks development at Smiths Beach in Yallingup
Yallingup, Western Australia
Yallingup is a town in the South West region of Western Australia, south of Perth. Yallingup is a popular tourist destination because of its beaches and limestone caves, and proximity to Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park.-History and industry:...
while he was still mayor of Busselton. On 9 October 2007, he was cleared by the CCC of any wrongdoing and pressure upon Omodei immediately increased. Former party leader Colin Barnett
Colin Barnett
Colin James Barnett , Australian politician, is the leader of the Western Australian Liberal Party, the 29th and current Premier of Western Australia since the 2008 election and served as the Treasurer of Western Australia in 2010. He was sworn into office by Governor Ken Michael on 23 September 2008...
, however, dismissed its significance, claiming Buswell would lead the Liberal Party at some future point but did not yet have the experience.
On 28 November 2007, just after the 2007 federal election which saw a new Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
government under Kevin Rudd
Kevin Rudd
Kevin Michael Rudd is an Australian politician who was the 26th Prime Minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010. He has been Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2010...
come into power, rumours of a push within the Liberal Party to install Buswell as state leader were reported in the media. Omodei, however, promised to "land a good right hook" on anyone asking him to stand aside, and asked for a "fair go" while announcing a swathe of new policies for the Party going forward. On 23 December 2007, it was reported that Buswell was moving his family to Shenton Park
Shenton Park, Western Australia
Shenton Park is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Subiaco and 4 km west of the Central business district. Its postcode is 6008...
in Perth's
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
inner western suburbs due to lengthy periods of time away from his family.
Leader of the Opposition
On 17 January 2008, Buswell made a challenge for the leadership of the state Liberal party and after a party room meeting won the position from Paul OmodeiPaul Omodei
Paul Domenic Omodei , Australian politician, was the leader of the Liberal Party and Leader of the Opposition in Western Australia from 24 March 2006 until 17 January 2008....
.
In the following media conference, he refused to comment on allegations relating to a drunken night at parliament, where he snapped the back of a female Labor party staffer's bra-strap as a "party trick", and other "inappropriate and sexist behaviour".
On 27 April 2008 further allegations were published, these included the sniffing of a chair of a female Liberal staffer as well as claims he crawled around on his hands and knees pretending to be the staffer's husband. Buswell first refused to deny the allegations, and then subsequently admitted to the act. The woman later revealed Buswell "was groaning and writhing in sexual pleasure".
As well as these incidents, Buswell has been accused by retiring Liberal MLA for Carine
Electoral district of Carine
The Electoral district of Carine is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia.The district is based in Perth's northern suburbs. Politically, it is a safe Liberal seat.-Geography:...
, Katie Hodson-Thomas
Katie Hodson-Thomas
Katina "Katie" Hodson-Thomas was born 28 April 1957 in Adelaide in South Australia. She was a Liberal member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Carine after winning the seat in the 1996 election...
, of making sexist remarks to her.
MLA for Roe
Electoral district of Roe
Roe was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia from 1950 to 1983 and again from 1989 to 2008.The district was based in the rural south of Western Australia...
Graham Jacobs
Graham Jacobs
Graham Gibson Jacobs has been a Liberal member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly since 2008.First elected to the seat of Roe at the 2005 election, he has been the member for Eyre since the 2008 election following the abolition of his former seat.Jacobs was born in Benalla, Victoria...
called for a leadership spill motion, which took place on 5 May 2008, but the motion failed and Buswell remained leader.
Revelations also came out of Buswell "squirrel gripping" (grabbing the testicles of) Liberal MLA Murray Cowper
Murray Cowper
Murray John Cowper is an Australian politician, having served in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly since 2005 as the Liberal member for Murray-Wellington....
in parliament. Cowper did not deny the incident, saying "As far as I'm concerned the matter's dead and it's time for everyone to move on, the media included."
Buswell faced a fresh crisis when it was revealed in a Corruption and Crime Commission
Corruption and Crime Commission
The Corruption and Crime Commission is a permanent investigative commission established by the Government of Western Australia in 2003, largely as a result of the findings of a Royal Commission into the state's police service. Its role is to investigate public corruption...
(CCC) report on 10 June 2008 that a motion moved in Parliament by his staunchest backer, Shadow Minister for Road Safety John McGrath
John McGrath (Western Australian politician)
John Edwin McGrath is a Western Australian politician and has been the Liberal member for the electorate of South Perth in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly since the 2005 election....
, had been provided to him by lobbyists Brian Burke
Brian Burke
Brian Thomas Burke was Labor premier of Western Australia from 25 February 1983 until his resignation on 25 February 1988...
and Julian Grill
Julian Grill
Julian Fletcher Grill is a former member of the Australian Labor Party and Member of the Parliament of Western Australia as the Member for Eyre....
. Burke had written the motion on behalf of a company that sold radar detectors. The CCC report said Mr McGrath's claim he was unaware of Burke's commercial interest in the issue strained credibility. Buswell backed McGrath by claiming that he had been cleared of misconduct while McGrath refused to stand down.
Three days later, Buswell sacked the Shadow Police Minister Rob Johnson
Rob Johnson (politician)
The Honourable Robert Frank Johnson MLA JP is an English Australian politician, being a Liberal member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Hillarys.-Local politics:...
after Johnson said he could not serve in the Shadow Cabinet with McGrath as Shadow Minister for Road Safety.
Buswell resigned as Liberal leader and leader of the opposition on 4 August 2008. He was replaced by Colin Barnett
Colin Barnett
Colin James Barnett , Australian politician, is the leader of the Western Australian Liberal Party, the 29th and current Premier of Western Australia since the 2008 election and served as the Treasurer of Western Australia in 2010. He was sworn into office by Governor Ken Michael on 23 September 2008...
.
Government
After resigning as leader, Buswell was granted a place on the Opposition front bench as Shadow Treasurer under new leader Colin Barnett. Following the state electionWestern Australian state election, 2008
A general election was held in the state of Western Australia on Saturday 6 September 2008 to elect 59 members to the Legislative Assembly and 36 members to the Legislative Council...
in September 2008, where the incumbent Labor government was defeated and the National Party agreed to vote with the Liberal Party in the hung parliament
Hung parliament
In a two-party parliamentary system of government, a hung parliament occurs when neither major political party has an absolute majority of seats in the parliament . It is also less commonly known as a balanced parliament or a legislature under no overall control...
, Buswell was named as Treasurer in Colin Barnett's new Cabinet.
On 24 April 2010, Greens MP Adele Carles
Adele Carles
Adele Simone Carles is an Australian politician. She has been a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly since May 2009, representing the electorate of Fremantle. Initially elected as a Greens WA member, she resigned from the party on 6 May 2010 to sit as an independent...
publicly stated that Buswell and herself had been engaged in an affair that lasted several months. Buswell himself gave a public statement on 26 April confirming this and that he had used a ministerial car and a government credit card to pay for accommodation for himself and Carles. On 27 April, the premier demanded, and obtained, his resignation as a member of the ministry, although Buswell continued as the member for Vasse.
Buswell was cleared of any miused of public entitlements by Public Sector Commissioner Mal Wauchope's report which was tabled to state parliament by premier Colin Barnett
Colin Barnett
Colin James Barnett , Australian politician, is the leader of the Western Australian Liberal Party, the 29th and current Premier of Western Australia since the 2008 election and served as the Treasurer of Western Australia in 2010. He was sworn into office by Governor Ken Michael on 23 September 2008...
on 23 June 2010. The premier indicated that Buswell would not be considered for a cabinet position until the end of the year. He was re-appointed to the ministry as Minister for Transport and Minister for Housing on 14 December 2010.