WA Attorney-General John Quigley has used parliamentary privilege to claim a laptop at the centre of a state MP expenses scandal may contain child pornography.
The Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) is fighting to re-seize the laptop, which is part of an investigation into the use of MP entitlements.
That laptop has been held by the Upper House of State Parliament for nearly a year, amid a fight over which bodies have the right to access certain evidence.
Mr Quigley told Parliament the laptop may contain material related to "overseas sexual exploitation of minors".
"A warrant was issued and a laptop taken and that led to a criminal investigation," Mr Quigley said.
"[I'm] not saying there's a crime committed because it's very hard sometimes to tell the age of Asian girls. Very hard.
"But there had to be an investigation as to what was on this computer and as to whether it involved overseas sexual exploitation of minors.
"That's still a current ongoing inquiry and a computer is locked away in this Parliament somewhere with that evidence."
The CCC seized the laptop and two hard drives from an MP in 2019.
But it was later forced to surrender the items to the Legislative Council, which argued the CCC had overstepped its powers by seizing objects subject to parliamentary privilege.
Fight over CCC head continues
The fight to return the laptop to the CCC is currently facing proceedings in the Supreme Court.
Former CCC commissioner John McKechnie was in charge of the investigation, but has since left the role after his reappointment was blocked by the parliamentary committee who oversees the CCC.
The State Government was trying to move legislation to change the way the CCC head is elected so Mr McKechnie could an resume his role, but has now "put that on pause" with every other party opposed to the bill.
But Mr Quigley said the Government would not nominate anyone else for the role, insisting Mr McKechnie's reappointment would become an election issue if not resolved before then.
"If you want to cover up corruption, vote Liberal," Mr Quigley said.
Mr Quigley said Mr McKechnie had confirmed he was willing to wait the nine months until the election, with the Government to leave the position vacant until then if he could not be reappointed.
Opposition Leader Liza Harvey said Mr Quigley should provide the police with any evidence he had to back up his allegations.
"These are very serious allegations and are matters for the police," Ms Harvey said.
"The Attorney-General is well known for making unsubstantiated claims under the cover of parliamentary privilege."
