A corruption inquiry in WA is looking into allegations of serious misconduct and misuse of taxpayer-funded allowance for MPs. 

In 2019, WA Liberal MP Phil Edman resigned after it was revealed he spent $78,000 of his taxpayer-funded electoral allowance on speeding fines, at a strip club, and on interstate trips to visit women for sex.

A subsequent Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) investigation was launched into three WA MPs, including Mr Edman, Brian Ellis and Nigel Hallett. Two interim reports produced by the inquiry so far show the misuse of $7.5 million in annual electoral allowances paid to WA parliamentary members.
However, this probe was forced to stop because investigators could not access their electronic communications. 

But now, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Hall has ruled that the vast majority of documents sought by the commission “could not attract a reasonable claim of parliamentary privilege on any view” and that the CCC had made a valid request to produce the documents.

Justice Hall said WA’s parliament has a “lawful obligation” to produce documents to the CCC if they are not protected by privilege.

“The public interest is generally not well served by a dispute between parliament and the executive being aired in a court,” Justice Hall added.

The CCC has welcomed the decision, and now expects the laptop and hard drives that the WA parliament has held onto for two years to be made available to it.