Chair-sniffing politician Troy Buswell safe

THE West Australian Liberals have endorsed the leadership of Troy Buswell after a spill motion failed at a partyroom meeting today.

The Liberal leader has been under intense pressure to resign after admitting last week that in 2005 he sniffed the chair of a female Liberal staffer at parliament house after she had stood up.
Before becoming leader in January, Mr Buswell admitted snapping the bra of a Labor staffer last year and was accused of making sexist remarks towards another MP.
Party spokesman Ray Halligan said the ballot for a spill motion failed at a meeting attended by all Liberal MPs.
He wouldn't divulge how many people spoke at the meeting.
Party whip Graham Jacobs had said he'd move a spill motion at today's partyroom meeting and support treasury spokesman Steve Thomas to take over from Mr Buswell.

Before the meeting, Mr Buswell said he had contacted MPs at the weekend and been assured of their support.
But there was speculation leading into today's meeting that a number of Mr Buswell's supporters were wavering.
Perth's only daily newspaper, The West Australian, today carried a front-page editorial which called on the Liberal party to dump Mr Buswell.
"The ease with which he employs deviousness and downright dishonesty in a bid to achieve his personal ambitions is stunning by even political standards,'' the newspaper said.
Mr Halligan said Mr Jacobs had failed in his motion for the position of leader of the WA parliamentary Liberal party to be declared vacant.
"There was debate on this issue, then it was put to a ballot and the motion was defeated,'' he said.