Premier Colin Barnett has aired his frustration at the ongoing Troy Buswell crash saga, saying he wished the disgraced politician would just “pay up".
The comments come after it was last week revealed that State Government insurer, RiskCover, had offered $3000 “hush money” to a woman whose Holden Barina was wrecked by Mr Buswell as long as she signed a confidentiality agreement.
Mr Buswell smashed into a pole, four parked cars and damaged his ministerial vehicle in Subiaco while driving home from a wedding on February 23.
In June, it was revealed in State Parliament that the damage bill of the State Government’s Holden Caprice was $14,700, but Mr Buswell was awaiting direction from RiskCover to determine what he should pay. It was also revealed at the time that RiskCover had sought legal advice over whether to pursue costs from Mr Buswell.
On Wednesday, Mr Barnett told Radio 6PR the ongoing saga was a distraction his government did not need, saying: “It’s not helping, it’s not helping and in fact, I wish he would just pay up the damage to the vehicle...That would satisfy the public”.
Mr Barnett said he was “stunned” and “dismayed” to find out about confidentiality clause and had ordered RiskCover to lift it.
“It should never have been put in place,” the Premier said.
“When I found out about that... I made it clear that I didn’t think it was an appropriate or acceptable restriction to put on a young woman whose car had been damaged.
“I’ve allowed this to go on independently. I have not interfered in any of the police investigation or the RiskCover. The only time I got involved was over the matter of restriction on public comment by the young woman...I don’t know how that happened.”
Mr Barnett vehemently denied that Mr Buswell had been given preferential treatment in the aftermath of the crash.
“I assure you and the listeners there was no directive from myself or from government to do anything unusual,” he told Gary Adshead’s Mornings program.
“My advice through [Department of Premier and Cabinet director-general Peter Conran] was to get on and settle this thing and finish it and treat it as any other case – treat it fairly, objectively, no special consideration.”
Last week, the state opposition claimed Mr Buswell had received special treatment and demanded to know why the MP had failed to sign a RiskCover insurance claim form and swathes of the document had been submitted incomplete.
In April, Mr Buswell pleaded guilty to 11 traffic offences, was fined $3100 and disqualified from driving for one year.
Drink-driving charges were not brought against Mr Buswell, who was not breathalysed on the night. He has repeatedly refused to say if he was intoxicated on the ill-fated night.
Mr Buswell, the Vasse MP, resigned from cabinet in March amid revelations he had suffered a mental breakdown after crashing his government car into the front gate of his Subiaco home.
The former transport minister fronted the media in early May to explain that he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and depression, but he refused to answer questions about whether he was drunk on the night.
Mr Barnett said he was yet to seek an explanation from Mr Conran, who had just returned from leave.
He said he believed the “interest” of Mr Conran had been “misinterpreted” by the media, clarifying that his interest extended to his responsibility for government vehicles.
The full cost of Mr Buswell’s crashes and damage to other vehicles is yet to be finalised.
