Carles asks Buswell to settle writ
Former Fremantle MP Adele Carles has revealed she recently met Treasurer Troy Buswell to offer him an olive branch in a bid to end their bitter legal dispute.
Ms Carles broke her long silence to reveal she is eager to settle the defamation lawsuit out of court instead of going through a Supreme Court trial, which could take years.
Mr Buswell is suing Ms Carles, his former lover, over comments across several media outlets about his state of mind, drinking and behaviour at a party at the home of businessman Nigel Satterley more than 18 months ago.
Mr Buswell denies the allegations.
Ms Carles said the year-old case was a drain on the public purse and the taxpayer-funded court system and she was concerned at how long it would take.
"Both Troy and I have made big mistakes, but surely now it's time to let this go," she said.
Both parties agreed on Thursday for the next hearing to be early next month but hours later Mr Buswell's lawyer Martin Bennett told the court of an administrative oversight and that he was not available until April.
Ms Carles said she was disappointed at this delay because she was eager to get on with her life as a private citizen.
"I certainly regret my role in this and I have apologised to Troy on several occasions," she said.
"It's Troy's political career that is on the line here, not mine. He's playing a game of Russian roulette."
She said the only winners would be lawyers.
This month, Ms Carles argued successfully for an open preliminary hearing but Justice Rene Le Miere said it was too early to consider her application for mediation.
The couple caused a sensation in 2010 when Ms Carles, a Greens MP, confessed to the affair.
It temporarily cost Mr Buswell his Cabinet position and Ms Carles failed at the last election, which she contested as an independent.
Mr Buswell declined to comment yesterday.
