'Sugar daddy' ex-WA MP quits Liberals
Rebecca Le May Australian Associated Press DECEMBER 17, 20198:04PM
Former WA Liberal MP Phil Edman, who used taxpayer funds to be a sugar daddy and visit strip clubs, has quit the party, which was going to expel him.
A former West Australian Liberal MP who used taxpayers' money to be a "sugar daddy", visit strip clubs and quaff fine wine has quit the party as it moved to expel him.
A Corruption and Crime Commission report tabled in state parliament on Tuesday revealed Phil Edman used his electorate allowance on personal indulgences including acting as a "sugar daddy" to women he met on the website Seeking Arrangement.
He spent thousands of dollars on interstate trips with them, claiming they were for parliamentary purposes.
But the CCC found the excursions were either entirely for the purposes of the trysts or extended so he could pursue the sexual relationships.
With one of the women, he paid for a helicopter flight in Canberra, where they touched down for a winery lunch and afternoon tea.
Mr Edman even claimed thousands of dollars for vehicle registrations and speeding fines incurred by himself, his wife and another one of his lovers.
He also used his allowance to attend a Perth strip club four times, entertaining other people in a "champagne room" on at least two occasions.
After the CCC raided his premises, seizing a laptop, Mr Edman got a former MP and a party official to warn various sitting members.
"It's got everything, all the emails between all of us, Black Hand Gang dinners, it's got the video, there's enough stuff on that f***ing computer to bury f***ing a lot of people," he said to a former MP.
The CCC handed down a finding of serious misconduct against Mr Edman, saying he had shown how WA's electorate allowances system could be easily abused and more controls were needed.
The CCC said it had also looked at his claims for vehicle use, Christmas functions, PayPal purchases, clothing, lotto syndicates, home insurance, expenses for his yacht named "Prime Minister", and meals with family and friends.
But it had been hampered by the Procedures and Privileges Committee, which demanded the corruption watchdog hand back the laptop over concerns some of the documents it contained were subject to parliamentary privilege.
As the matter headed to court, the CCC capitulated in September.
Premier Mark McGowan says the committee now needs to hand the laptop back to investigators.
Mr McGowan labelled Mr Edman's conduct "some of the grossest I've ever heard of in political life in Australia".
Opposition integrity spokesman Tjorn Sibma agreed it was appalling, saying Mr Edman's resignation "came about 10 years too late".
"Good riddance, Phil," Mr Sibma told reporters.
"I think it reflects poorly on politicians and we must remain mindful that we are servants of the public."
Mr Sibma said he was shocked but Opposition Leader Liza Harvey had "drawn a line ... early" with Mr Edman - despite the former government whip remaining in the party after a damning CCC report in March.
It revealed he urged the former trade commissioner to Japan, Craig Peacock, to arrange a taxpayer-funded trip to Tokyo, where he visited a bathhouse.
Mr Edman insisted it was for a massage, but made a sexual comment in a text to Mr Peacock.
Mr Peacock's reply was "all the tarts better get ready, Phil in the house!"
Mr McGowan also said Ms Harvey needed to explain the "Black Hand Gang", which Mr Edman led.
According to the report, the "loose" group of upper house MPs would dine in a private room at a fancy restaurant twice a year, with the events described as "seminars" and Mr Edman claiming almost $18,000 over a two-and-a-half year period.
One member said they could be perceived as "frivolous frequent taxpayer-funded excuse for an expensive piss-up" but Mr Edman said "some policy" was discussed at the "team-building" gatherings, where trophies were presented.
Mr Sibma said the Black Hand Gang was "just a collegiate term of affection" and "a trivial thing".
The premier wants controls around electoral allowances tightened, and says the Salaries and Allowances Tribunal will provide a report on the issue early next year.
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