Mr Buswell confirmed details of the woman's account of a 2005 incident at a press conference today in Mandurah, south of Perth.

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.

“I was shocked and outraged and I told him,” the woman told The West Australian newspaper.

Mr Buswell said he had repeatedly refused to deny the allegations because he wanted to protect the woman involved.

But he broke down after he was asked about the effect of the reports on his wife and children.

Tears in his eyes, Mr Buswell said he needed a short break, turned his back and then asked his press secretary to bring him a glass of water.