Former WA treasurer Troy Buswell speaks out: 'I never misused taxpayers' money'

Former WA treasurer  Troy Buswell 

Disgraced former WA treasurer Troy Buswell has today denied claims he misused taxpayers money on one occasion during his affair with Greens MP Adele Carles.

Speaking outside Energy Minister Peter Collier's home in Subiaco today, where he has been staying since news of his affair with Ms Carles broke, Mr Buswell said the latest advice he received was that a night's accommodation in Albany, which came under the microscope, was a "perfectly legitimate use of my entitlements".

"I didn't misuse any taxpayer entitlements and anyone who portrays that as fact is wrong," he said.

On Monday Mr Buswell said he paid for the room in Albany, which he shared with Ms Carles, using his parliamentary entitlements.

Today a relaxed-looking Mr Buswell said he got to spend some time with his two sons and his wife yesterday, adding he had just finished "cleaning up" his Perth office.

He said he "respected the Premier's decision" and was looking forward to "representing the best area in WA" in the seat of Vasse in the south-west.

"I've got a long road ahead in terms of healing a whole lot of hurt and relationships that I damaged through my behaviour," he said.

"I really enjoyed my job and I felt I made a positive contribution."

Mr Buswell said Ms Carles "should stand quite proudly by her record" as a parliamentarian and representative for Fremantle.

A spokeswoman for Premier Colin Barnett said he would be sworn in as the new treasurer this afternoon.

Earlier, an embattled Ms Carles said she was "shocked" when Mr Buswell admitted misusing entitlements during their four-month affair, and claims neither MP did so.

The Greens member for Fremantle, 41, said Mr Buswell got "bad advice" from his chief of staff regarding his admission of misusing funds during the affair, which ultimately led to his resignation yesterday.

Source: www.smh.com.au

Moran refused bail

Judy Moran

By ADRIAN LOWE


Gangland widow Judy Moran has been refused bail after a magistrate found she had not met "exceptional circumstances".

Deputy chief magistrate, Jelena Popovic told Moran that her bail application "had not gone well", and that while she maintained concerns about her health and transport issues, there was not enough evidence to qualify her for exceptional ciurcumstances, and therefoe would not be released on bail.

The court heard earlier today that Moran told a friend that a witness in her murder committal hearing would “have the best rude awakening coming to her” if she was bailed.

Moran, 65, had resumed her bail application at the Melbourne Magistrates Court after being charged with the murder of her former brother-in-law, Des "Tuppence" Moran.

Mr Moran was shot dead in Ascot Vale last June. Judy Moran, 65, Suzanne Kane, 45, her de facto husband, Geoffrey "Nuts" Armour, 44, and Michael Farrugia, 45, are charged with Mr Moran's murder and have been committed to stand trial.

Detective Senior Constable Stephen Reidy, in opposing bail, told the court that Judy Moran had been heard on prison telephones telling friend Judy Fyfe that case witness and Des Moran's friend Sandra Cummins was “going to have the best rude awakening coming to her when I get bail you've ever seen”.

"I will fix her up (in) two shakes of a lamb's tail," Moran said.

Detective Senior Constable Reidy said Moran had shown a propensity to destroy evidence and may interefere with witnesses if released.

Earlier her lawyer, Jim Stavris, said Moran had shown exceptional circumstances because of “sensationalised media reporting” around her charge and committal.

He said this included a report that she had had a prison fight with Tania Herman, who was jailed after pleading guilty to the attempted murder of Maria Korp, in an attempt to become the top dog at Dame Phyllis Frost Prison.

Mr Stavris tended an affidavit from Herman in which she said she had never met Moran before the article was published in the Herald Sun newspaper.

"We have both been deeply hurt by the allegations in the Herald Sun," Herman wrote.

"This allegation has defamed our solid and good reputations."

But prosecutor Claire Quinn said Moran had facilitated much of the media attention focused on her.

"Her profile had been deliberately raised by herself," Ms Quinn said. "A lot of media attention is as a result of her own actions.

Source: www.theage.com.au