Troy Buswell's dream of leading the state Liberal Party are in tatters following what can only be described as his week from hell.
At the start of the week there was a consensus within the media that Mr Buswell would challenge for the parties leadership following his return from a family holiday in Japan. But allegations in today's Sunday Times that he snapped the bra strap of a Labor Party staffer have ended his push for the Liberal leadership. The Sunday Times story can be found here. The Geo can report that we were first informed about this incident late last year via anonymous email. At the time The Geo choose not to run with the story.
According to the Sunday Times article Mr Buswell has not responded to subsequent calls from the them or his Leader Paul Omodel, nor has be denied the allegations put to him by Times journalist Paul Lampathakis.
Mr Buswell is backing away from his leadership challenge on Mr Omodei. Mr Omodel has frequently said he will not step down from the party leadership without a fight and may now take advantage of his deputies' mistakes. His language is response to the allegations were strong and made reference to Mr Buswell's future as deputy leader of the party.
What do you think of Troy Buswell's actions, were they inappropriate and should he step down as a Member of Parliament.
Buswell
The Buswell apologists should be ashamed of themselves. They are glossing over two points:
1. Buswell was AT WORK when this incident happened. perhaps some real estate agents and the like can get drunk at lunchtime and miss meetings (as one writer to the West's blog said) but the rest of us are more responsible.
2. There is a clear power differential between an influential male Member of Palriament and a female staffer who is trying to maintain a fledgling career and perhaps has political aspitrations of her own that she would have to lay on the line in order to make a complaint. Whether she publically says she was not offended or not, the fact remains that a person in a powerful position made sexual advances to a person in a less powerful position and it is totally unacceptable.
Buswell should resign and go back to ferrying pensioners on their holidays.
Sky News is reporting that
Sky News is reporting that even some Libs are questioning whether Troy should remain in Parliament.
His behavior has been disgraceful and borders on sexual harassment - not to mention being drunk in Parliament and not performing his duties as our elected representative.
He must resign as MP for Vasse immediately.
It's time the people of Vasse realised that the Liberal Party have treated them with contempt - until they vote accordingly we are destined to get MPs like Troy.
Just in regards to some of the other comments on here it will be interesting to see if any of the local papers report on this and if so in what way?
Why do I think that the Mail will come up with a cock and bull story to deflect this issue? - "Stubbs or Ryan attacks Government/Shire CEO over pathetic issue". I'm sure that the local Lib spin doctor Rob Bennett will be trying to find a story to take this off the front page.
It's the biggest news in the State and is on National news too yet our papers will probably ignore it - or put it on page 15.
No wonder Troy thought himself invincible - the local media has failed to hold him to account for years.