The WA Government has demanded a laptop belonging to embattled ex-Liberal MP Phil Edman be handed back to the state's corruption watchdog, after he was recorded saying that material on the computer could "bury f***en' a lot of people and ruin their political careers".

Key points: Phil Edman was exposed by a CCC investigation into his electorate allowance

Phil Edman was exposed by a CCC investigation into his electorate allowance His laptop, which apparently contained incriminating information, was seized

His laptop, which apparently contained incriminating information, was seized But the CCC was forced to return it after a claim it fell under parliamentary privilege

A bombshell report from the Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) found Mr Edman engaged in serious misconduct by claiming personal expenses against his $78,000 taxpayer-funded allowance, including strippers, travel to meet women for sex and berthing his private yacht, named "Prime Minister".

The revelations are set to cause ongoing political repercussions in WA politics after CCC Commissioner John McKechnie said Mr Edman was "not the only one under investigation" for the misuse of MP electoral allowances.

But he said the probe had been stalled by a Supreme Court battle with the Legislative Council over access to Mr Edman's computer.

"The [Legislative Council's] Procedure and Privileges Committee needs to get out of the way of the CCC and hand over that laptop immediately," the Government's Leader in the Legislative Council Sue Ellery said.

"The purpose of parliamentary privilege is not to hide corruption."

Some of Phil Edman's expenses highlighted by the CCC: TRAVEL A five-day all-expenses trip to Melbourne , a restaurant meal and personal bills

A five-day , a restaurant meal and personal bills A trip to Darwin to meet a woman known as Ms Y in 2014 — business-class airfare of $2,626, accommodation costs at the Sky City Casino totalling $4,468 and a $294 dinner

A to meet a woman known as Ms Y in 2014 — business-class airfare of $2,626, accommodation costs at the Sky City Casino totalling $4,468 and a $294 dinner A trip to Canberra to meet a woman known as Ms X in 2015 — he claimed expenses of $5,359 but got reimbursed only $597.68 because he had exhausted his parliamentary travel allowance. His claims included reimbursement for a helicopter trip and hotel accommodation with Ms X

A to meet a woman known as Ms X in 2015 — he claimed expenses of $5,359 but got reimbursed only $597.68 because he had exhausted his parliamentary travel allowance. His claims included reimbursement for a helicopter trip and hotel accommodation with Ms X A three-day trip to South Australia in 2016 referred to as a "Penfolds Wine Tour" — He travelled with two other MPs. Purchases included $4,003 for wine and $973 for meals. He visited five wineries, the Adelaide Casino and had an eight-course degustation dinner at a restaurant. Mr Edman claimed $7,115 on his electorate allowance. DINING The Black Hand Gang — Between 2013 and 2016, Mr Edman claimed a total of $17,942 for dinners held at restaurants including Lamonts, Matilda Bay, and at Burswood Resort (now called Crown Perth) YACHT He claimed berthing and other maintenance expenses for his yacht "Prime Minister" on his electorate allowance CAR He claimed $10,776 for vehicle registrations and speeding fines received by himself, his wife and a woman known as Ms Z STRIPPERS Mr Edman claimed $2,908 for four visits in 2016 to the Penthouse Club in Perth

Mr Edman claimed $2,908 for four visits in 2016 to the in Perth In at least two visits he entertained others in the club's "champagne room" Source: Corruption and Crime Commission

The laptop at the centre of a scandal

The CCC tapped Mr Edman's phone during their investigations and in the course of this intercepted a phone call from Mr Edman to a businessman in September that alluded to further incriminating material in his possession.

"There's enough stuff on that f***en' computer to bury f***en' a lot of people and ruin their political careers forever," he was recorded saying

"There's videos and pictures and lots of lovely little collections that I've got on there."

The CCC seized the laptop and two hard drives from Mr Edman earlier this year, but 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.

Mr Edman was found to have "abused" his electoral allowance to pay for strippers and sex.

The matter is now subject to two separate Supreme Court proceedings.

Soon after the laptop was surrendered to the Legislative Council, the CCC recorded Mr Edman telling a former MP:

"That's good she [Legislative Council President Kate Doust] has got the laptop.

"I think once she gets the laptop she should probably chuck it in the Swan River, is probably what she should be doing.

"You always have a little shit file in case you need [to use] it on people that f***en' piss you off."

A matter of 'sacrosanct' privilege: Liberals

The Liberal Leader in the Legislative Council, Peter Collier, said it was not a case of MPs trying to protect their own.

"We do not object to handing over the laptop, and this is a collective decision of the Legislative Council," he said.

"Every single party other than the Labor Party supported that view.

"We have always consented to non-privileged information being provided to the CCC. That has never been in question."

Mr Edman charged some berthing and maintenance costs for his yacht to the taxpayer. ( Facebook: Phil Edman )

He said the objection was to the CCC having access to privileged information not related to its investigation.

"Parliamentary privilege is sacrosanct. It's 800 years old," he said.

"If we get to the point where privileged information is handed over to a third party, what's going to happen to people that come and speak to us in confidence?"

Greens MLC Alison Xamon said she agreed the CCC should not have access to privileged information.

"I have on my laptop whistleblowers who have contacted me with information about this Government. I've got whistleblowers who've contacted with concerns, sometimes about the CCC," she said.

"They need to have their interests protected."

There is a chance the high-stakes legal battle could be resolved as early as Thursday.

Lawyers for the CCC, the Legislative Council and the Attorney-General are due to attend a mediation session with the aim of negotiating a process to hand over the laptop and other relevant material, ahead of a Supreme Court directions hearing on Friday.

MP entitlements system under scrutiny

As the fallout from the CCC report continued, WA's Salaries and Allowances Tribunal (SAT) revealed it was considering options to make the MP entitlements system more accountable and transparent.

A new set of rules covering entitlements for MPs could be in place by 2021. ( ABC News )

SAT chair Margaret Seares said that could include random independent auditing of MPs' expenses, as well as a public register of claims made.

"We've looked at a model in Queensland where the MPs on an annual basis sort of do a small report card, so to speak, of what they have spent the money on in terms of the electorate allowance, the accommodation allowances and so on, and that gets tabled in the Parliament," she said.

Ms Seares said the SAT would make its reform recommendations to the Government early next year, with a view to implementing a new regime for the next Parliament in 2021.