Debbie Guest
WEST Australian Premier Colin Barnett has condemned the behaviour of former treasurer Troy Buswell and Greens MP Adele Carles, labelling their affair as "tacky".
His comments come a day after the Greens agreed to allow Ms Carles to remain in the party, with a weekend meeting deciding against her dismissal.
But speculation on her future continued, after suggestions she might quit the party.
Ms Carles told News Limited newspapers she was still making up her mind about whether to remain with the Greens.
Mr Barnett yesterday gave a scathing assessment of the behaviour of Ms Carles and Mr Buswell following revelations of their affair, which cost the Liberal MP his job as treasurer.
"The whole events of the last week have been, frankly, tacky," the Premier said.
"I have been singularly unimpressed by almost everyone involved".Mr Barnett said he was "sick and tired" of the political scandal.
Since the affair was revealed on Anzac Day, the saga over whether Mr Buswell used taxpayers' money to fund the pair's trysts has attracted days of media attention.
Ms Carles's election last year boosted the Greens' numbers in Western Australia's parliament to five, and put the party in a position to secure $50,000 a year in funding for leader Giz Watson.
But Greens MP Robin Chapple said this was not a consideration when members voted to reject a motion calling for Ms Carles's dismissal.
He said the party now wanted to move forward, but admitted the scandal could have an impact at the federal election.
"Whatever happens, there's going to be some fallout," he said.
"I don't think it's dramatic. People vote for us on the philosophies we sign for, and that's what we should be judged on".
Political analyst Harry Phillips said the Greens had made the right decision on Ms Carles.
"I think to expel her from the party might have caused some real consternation," Mr Phillips said.
The Australian
