West Australian Opposition Leader Troy 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.
Mr Buswell, who has admitted to sniffing the chair of a former Liberal party colleague and snapping the bra of a Labor staffer, was questioned on the rumours on Wednesday while attending a press conference at Parliament House.
It followed his sacking from the frontbench on Tuesday of former leader Paul Omodei, who said recently there would be "more stories" to emerge about Mr Buswell and that his leadership would "die the death of a thousand cuts".
Asked if he had done anything inappropriate to a quokka, Mr Buswell replied: "No".
Asked if he was aware of any rumours about actions involving the small marsupials, which are indigenous to Rottnest Island, Mr Buswell said: "I have absolutely no idea about these stories of quokkas on Rottnest.
"I'm not being backward in saying that I'm not a perfect individual and you know I've had a robust past and there may be elements of that that have proved offensive to people.
"I don't shy away from that at all, but I'm not aware that I've caused any offence to a quokka."
Asked how the rumours had started, Mr Buswell said: "I have no idea.
"I'm not going to comment on it. All I've heard is people use the word quokka and then smile and laugh.
"I'm just not interested to be honest with you."
He said none of his MPs had come to him to report the rumour.
"Members of the press have in passing mentioned the word quokka and suggested to me that something inappropriate in the past may have happened.
"Nothing has, absolutely nothing."
Quokkas on Rottnest have been targets of abuse before, with former Wallabies rugby backrower Scott Fava fined last year for mistreating one of the marsupials during a drunken incident that became known as the "quokka shocker".
Mr Buswell said he found it "quite remarkable that some of these bizarre accusations get legs and due consideration".
Asked if his leadership was being undermined and whether he would be better off without Mr Omodei in the party, Mr Buswell said: "I'll tell you what's better with the Liberal party.
"That is that everybody accepts their responsibility to the collective and to the voters of the state and that they knuckle down and do their jobs properly.
"I mean fanciful stories like this don't do anyone any benefit."
Mr Buswell said the latest rumours concerning his behaviour had no bearing on his position in the Liberal party room.
"Politics is not without its moments like this. It happens on both sides of politics from time to time. We just have to deal with it and get on with it," he said.
Following Tuesday's sacking of Mr Omodei from the front bench for making "unacceptable comments" about his leadership, Mr Buswell said on Wednesday he expected the former leader to decide himself whether to remain in the Liberal party.
"We had a private conversation yesterday. I'm not going back over the details of that," Mr Buswell said.
"But suffice it to say, and I think it's well known publicly, that he's reconsidering his position as it relates to the Liberal party.
"I respect his right to do that and when he's given that due consideration we'll all be informed about what his decision is.
"Last week our party room was of a very clear resolve that we had to get back to the job of holding the government to account, and that for people to voice views outside of the party room that undermines our collective responsibilities to move forward, is not going to be tolerated."
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