Disgraced former Treasurer Troy Buswell is refusing to say what happened on that infamous night in February when he crashed his car and left behind a trail of destruction in Subiaco.
Former WA Treasurer Troy Buswell won't comment on claims he was drunk when he crashed his car.
PREMIER Colin Barnett has denied any notion of a 'cover up' or preferential treatment for disgraced former Treasurer Troy Buswell.
In Parliament today, Mr Barnett said he did not believe it was his job to ask whether Mr Buswell had been drinking - after the Vasse MLA admitted to crashing his ministerial car on February 23.
"Give me any evidence of interference in the police investigation," Mr Barnett told Parliament.
"I have simply acted as I have seen fit at each stage as information has become available.
"I do not excuse or condone in any way whatsoever what happened leading to the damage."
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Opposition Leader Mark McGowan said Mr Buswell's comments this morning, where he refused to answer questions about the night of Feburary 23, was not good enough.
He also took a swipe at the Premier, who said part of the MP's punishment was losing his ministerial portfolio.
"Standards are so low in the government that we have a senior minister, driving, I think, blind drunk down the streets, risking lives, damaging property, and yet the premier says he does not have to explain himself," Mr McGowan said.
"And the police minister says he does not have to explain those events.
"That is not acceptable."
Do you think, using Mr Buswell's words, that "the matter has been dealt with"?
This morning, Mr Buswell refused to say what happened on that infamous night in February when he crashed his car and left behind a trail of destruction in Subiaco.
Addressing the media, Mr Buswell said he had been diagnosed with bipolar depression, but refused to answer questions on whether he was drunk on the night.
The Vasse MLA said he was "embarrassed" and "mortified" by what had happened, saying he believed a return to work would help with his rehabilitation.
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Asked why he did not speak to police about crashing his car into four other cars in Subiaco on his way home from a wedding in Kings Park, Mr Buswell said he had left it up to his lawyers to speak to investigators.
When questioned why he did not report smashing his ministerial car to the Premier or his office till March 9, the former Treasurer said he had been in hospital for several days after his "breakdown" on February 23.
Mr Buswell addressed Liberal MPs at a party room meeting this morning, some of whom have told PerthNow he needed to tell the "whole story" in order to gain any respect from the public.
Troy Buswell at his packed media conference outside of Parliament House. Picture: Marie Nirme. Source: Supplied
"Police have conducted a thorough investigation into a number of traffic accidents that occurred that night in Subiaco. Police formed a view they were caused by me, engaging in careless driving and I have accepted the consequences of my actions," Mr Buswell said.
"Police have investigated those matters ... I'm not a police officer and I'm not a lawyer from whom they would have received advice," he said.
"In my view, the matter has been dealt with."
"In relation to my health I have been diagnosed with bipolar depression, I have been receiving treatment for that from the 24th of February and that treatment is ongoing.
"I expect that treatment will continue for a long time to come.
"This has been a very difficult time for me and my family but all the advice I have from my doctor and others is returning to work is an important part of my recovery."
Heaven help me: Troy Buswell during a press conference outside Parliament House in Perth. Picture: Marie Nirme. Source: Supplied
Asked whether he was drunk on the night, Mr Buswell said: "The police have conducted an investigation and charged me with a range of driving offences and I accept responsibility for my actions. I have no more comment to make around events surrounding those matters.
"I am embarrassed and mortified that this happened, and I apologise and will continue to apologise to those people whom this has impacted."
Asked why he did not speak to police, Mr Buswell said: "Like a lot of people in those circumstances where there was a police investigation I engaged a lawyer and that lawyer basically communicated on my behalf to police."
Mr Buswell said that following the crash he was in hospital for "some 10 days" and was not in a state of mind to report the crash to the Premier, till March 9 – when police contacted Mr Barnett and his office.
In relation to who would pay for damage to the ministerial car and other vehicles, Mr Buswell said: "As I understand it Risk Cover has indicated they will assess those accidents.
"They have sought additional advice from the WA Police force but I haven't had any other contact with Risk Cover.
Feeling the strain: Troy Buswell during a press conference outside Parliament House in Perth. Picture: Marie Nirme. Source: Supplied
"I will wait until I receive additional advice from the government insurer."
Mr Buswell would not commit to completing a full term.
"I want to get better and continue serving my constituents. At the end of the day they're two simple but challenging goals," he said.
"What I can guarantee is that my full focus is on getting better and my focus is on continuing to provide the very best level of service I can to my constituents."
Mr Buswell was spotted riding his bush bike to a gym in Northbridge. Later, he walked to Parliament.
He said he may apply for an extraordinary licence.
'APPALLED' JOHNSON STORMS OUT MAVERICK Liberal backbencher Rob Johnson has stormed out of this morning's party room meeting after Mr Buswell was applauded on his return to parliament.
Mr Johnson, the former road safety minister, said Mr Buswell later trotted out "well rehearsed lines" in his first party room meeting since taking sick and personal leave in the wake of the controversy.
Colleagues weren't allowed to ask him any questions, including whether he was drunk - as alleged by a witness to the gate crash - and he didn't shed any light on the events that led up to the ill-fated trip home, Mr Johnson said.
When Mr Buswell went to sit down, some applauded, prompting Mr Johnson to walk out in disgust.
"I said `that's appalling' and stormed out of the room," Mr Johnson said.
"He gave a very tearful performance - one I've seen before."
Mr Johnson said people could have been killed as Mr Buswell drove home, given the witness said he appeared barely able to stand as he entered his property.
Mr Johnson said Mr Buswell should have provided police with a full statement.
The fact that he didn't reflected badly on the entire parliament, he said.
"We're the people who make laws here.
"He should resign. He should start a new chapter in his life - he's only 48."
Mr Johnson said he had tremendous sympathy for anyone with mental illness, but that was a separate issue to "atrocious" behaviour.
FOR HELP WITH EMOTIONAL DIFFICULTIES
Contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or www.lifeline.org.au
For help with depression, contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36 or at www.beyondblue.org.au
The SANE Helpline is 1800 18 SANE (7263) or at www.sane.org
The damaged front of Troy Buswell's ministerial car. Picture: Nine News Source: Channel 9
Just after 8.45am this morning, Mr Buswell was doorstopped by Channel Seven reporter Geoff Parry as he walked to work and promised a press conference prior to the party room meeting ahead of the parliamentary session.
Asked if he was fully fit to return, Mr Buswell said: "I suppose time will tell".
"It is my intention at this stage to stay in parliament.
"I have two focuses. One, to get better and that's very much an ongoing process and secondly, to continue to serve my constituents. "So that's what I'm attempting to do and that's what I want to keep doing."
WA Treasurer Troy Buswell. Picture: Colin Murty Source: News Corp Australia
Mr Buswell resigned as Treasurer after it was reported that he had damaged four cars and crashed into his own gate on his way home to Subiaco from a wedding in Kings Park in the early hours of February 23.
Last week he pleaded guilty to 11 driving offences, including leaving the scene of a crash, and issued a public apology. He was fined $3100 and disqualified from driving for 12 months.
At the weekend, The Sunday Times revealed Mr Buswell and his then chief-of-staff Rachel Turnseck were living large, racking up bills of almost $14,000 on hotels, meals and travel expenses during a light rail "fact finding'' mission in Europe — all while WA was losing its vital AAA credit rating.
Yesterday, Labor shadow treasurer Ben Wyatt said Mr Buswell would not be treated with "kid gloves'' in his return to Parliament.
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