From the Wild West comes this:

West Australian Opposition Leader Troy Buswell has broken down at a press conference and admitted he sniffed the chair of a female Liberal Party staffer.

Speaking to journalists at a press conference at Mandurah, south of Perth, Mr Buswell confirmed details of the woman’s account of a 2005 incident, reported in The West Australian newspaper today.

Oh dear. The only question that remains is: WHY?

The woman, who does not want to be named, said Mr Buswell started sniffing the chair she had been sitting on at his Parliament House office in December 2005.

The incident took place in front of other staff members.

She said he had done it to get a laugh.

That’s why he did it? To get a laugh?

Piss weak.

Mr Buswell has previously admitted to snapping a Labor staffer’s bra as a drunken party trick and has been accused by retiring Liberal MP Katie Hodson-Thomas of making sexist remarks to her.

Was that for a giggle as well?

He said it had been a difficult time for him “on a personal level”.

“These are difficult issues for me to deal with and they are very difficult issues for my family to deal with,” he said.

“It’s hard dealing with these matters and having to face up to your responsibilities behaviourally, publicly, and it’s harder to do it privately.”

Of course it’s been difficult for the family. No one else found it funny; why should the family?

Deputy Liberal leader Kim Hames was today standing by Mr Buswell, describing him as a “rough diamond with a robust sense of humour”.

“Robust”? How about just “iffy”?

And “rough diamond”? How about “undeveloped mineral deposit”?

Dr Hames said his leader needed to change his behaviour, but also acknowledged there was no one to replace him.

Right. Just like the Libs can’t replace Doctor Brendan Nelson. Hey, did you know he’s a doctor?