Lawyer Ben Dawkins has been sworn into parliament as Western Australia's newest MP and promised to support Labor's legislation as the party moves to expel him over allegations he breached 42 family violence restraining orders.
WA Labor's Administrative Committee met this morning and decided to support a recommendation that he be expelled, with a final decision to be made at the next meeting of the party's state executive.
Arriving at parliament ahead of his swearing-in, Mr Dawkins accused unnamed parties of throwing him under a bus but also said he would support Labor in parliament.
"At this stage I'm elected effectively as a Labor member and I'll be supporting their legislation," he told reporters.
WA Labor state secretary Ellie Whiteaker was contacted for comment and released a statement confirming the latest moves to expel him, saying Mr Dawkins's membership "remains suspended".
Shortly after, Mr Dawkins took his seat in the Legislative Council on the cross benches, next to independent MP James Hayward.
Labor's president of the upper house Alanna Clohesy acknowledged his election and welcomed him to the chamber.
Maiden speech in May as legal case continues
Mr Dawkins had earlier been sworn in during a brief private ceremony with Ms Clohesy.
He is not likely to give his maiden speech until May but can ask questions without notice in the meantime.
Mr Dawkins was selected to take former minister Alannah MacTiernan's vacated seat in the Legislative Council after a recount by the Australian Electoral Commission earlier this month.
He had been fifth on Labor's ticket for the South West region at the 2021 election, but the fourth candidate on the list declined to take up the spot.
Mr Dawkins was last week in court for the latest hearing in the family violence restraining order charges.
He had initially pleaded guilty but then indicated he wanted to change his plea.
The matter was left unresolved after arguments with the police prosecutor over the paperwork, and he is due back in Fremantle Magistrates Court next week.
Dawkins blames 'people at the top'
Mr Dawkins today commented on his political situation.
"It just wasn't about any organisation in particular, but just about how people at the top are very willing to basically try to make themselves look good by throwing you under the bus," he said.
"And I think that's indicative of where we're at in WA at the moment."
Ms Whiteaker did not respond to those comments but explained the process of expulsion.
"The WA Labor Disputes Committee has completed their report into the Dawkins matter and recommended that he be expelled from the WA Labor Party," she said.
"The party's Administrative Committee met this morning and resolved to support the recommendation. A final decision on the expulsion will be considered at the next meeting of the WA Labor State Executive."
Mr Dawkins indicated he would do some pro bono legal work while in parliament.
"I can declare that and effectively continue to do some pro bono work, which suits me because I've got a couple of cases in the district court and federal court at the moment," he said.
"So I would like to finish those off."
