Troy Buswell has quit as leader of the West Australian Opposition, saying he wants the focus to be on the failures of the Carpenter government and not him.
"I do not want to give the government the opportunity to take the focus off of its failings by engaging in cheap personality based politics,'' Mr Buswell told a media conference in Perth.
"I give an assurance today that whoever replaces me as leader of the parliamentary Liberal party will have my 100 per cent support both on the record and off the record.''
Mr Buswell said he wanted to play a major role in helping the Opposition defeat the government at the next election, and did not intend to leave parliament.
The next poll is due before May 2 next year, but anticipation is mounting that Premier Alan Carpenter will call an election within months.
Mr Buswell has been the subject of increasing pressure to stand down since he admitted sniffing a chair that a female staffer had been sitting on.
Former Liberal Leader Colin Barnett is tipped to succeed Mr Buswell.
"I do not want to give the government the opportunity to take the focus off of its failings by engaging in cheap personality based politics," Mr Buswell told a media conference in Perth.
"I give an assurance today that whoever replaces me as leader of the parliamentary Liberal Party will have my 100 per cent support both on the record and off the record."
Mr Buswell said he wanted to play a major role in helping the opposition defeat the government at the next election, and did not intend to leave parliament.
The next poll is due before May 2 next year, but anticipation is mounting that Premier Alan Carpenter will call an election within months.
Mr Buswell has been the subject of increasing pressure to stand down since he admitted sniffing a chair that a female staffer had been sitting on.
Former Liberal leader Colin Barnett is tipped to succeed Mr Buswell.
"I've made the decision today to resign as leader of the parliamentary Liberal Party because I believe it's in the best interests of the the Western Australian Liberal Party," Mr Buswell said.
"There is a massive political opportunity at the next state election and I think I owe it to our candidates, to my fellow members of cabinet and to the Liberal Party, to make sure we have every opportunity to win government at that election."
Mr Buswell said he would serve in any capacity he was asked to and hoped to help play a major role in a Liberal win at the next state election.
"Most observers of politics would know that my six months as parliamentary leader has not been without its challenges," he said.
"However, during that time I feel that we've done a good job in holding the government to account when they've made mistakes.
"I'm confident that I've made the right decision, I'm confident I've made an honourable decision."
Timeline of events surrounding Troy Buswell's elevation to the WA Liberal Party leadership in January, 2008
November 8, 2005 - First-term MP Troy Buswell is elected to the Liberal Party deputy leadership following Paul Omodei's resignation from the position.
January 13, 2008 - Allegations emerge that Mr Buswell snapped the bra of a Labor staffer at WA's parliament house in mid-2007.
January 15 - Mr Buswell returns from Japan as speculation mounts he will challenge Paul Omodei for the Liberal leadership. Mr Buswell apologises for his drunken antics in parliament in 2007 when he snapped a Labor staffer's bra and cuddled up to a fellow MP. He also apologises for making sexist remarks to Liberal MP Katie Hodson-Thomas.
January 17 - Mr Buswell elected Liberal Party leader after Mr Omodei declines to renominate in a leadership spill.
February 2 - Liberal MP Sue Walker moves to the backbench and later quits the party she had dubbed a "boy's club". Ms Walker said she did not trust Mr Buswell.
April 27 - Allegations emerge Mr Buswell sniffed the chair of a Liberal staffer after she finished talking to a constituent in 2005.
April 28 - Mr Buswell denies the allegations.
April 29 - Mr Buswell breaks down at a press conference after admitting he had sniffed the staffer's chair in front of others.
May 1 - Liberal MP Graham Jacobs pushes for a leadership spill against Mr Buswell.
May 5 - Mr Buswell re-endorsed as Liberal Party leader after the spill motion fails.
May 6 - The woman at the centre of the seat-sniffing scandal says he writhed in mock sexual pleasure during the incident.
May 14 - Mr Buswell says there is "absolutely no substance" to reports he once did something inappropriate to a quokka, a small marsupial found on a holiday island off Perth.
- An internet blogger apologises the following day, saying he invented the story.
May 16 - Liberal backbencher Murray Cowper says an incident in which he was reportedly "squirrel-gripped", or grabbed in the crotch, by Mr Buswell had been dealt with and was no longer an issue.
June 13 - Mr Buswell dumps police spokesman Rob Johnson from his front bench for demanding the sacking of a colleague.
June 17 - Mr Buswell survives another leadership spill, brought against him by disaffected MP Anthony Fels.
June 19 - Former leader Paul Omodei resigns from the Liberal Party citing Mr Buswell's handling of the leadership.
August 4 - Mr Buswell announces his resignation as leader at a press conference he called following reports of dismal internal polling of his election prospects.
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