Disgraced Darling Range MP Barry Urban has resigned from the WA Parliament after a powerful committee recommended he be expelled for repeatedly lying about his past.

The Legislative Assembly's Procedure and Privileges Committee made the rare recommendation in a report examining the truth of statements Mr Urban made in the Parliament.

The report found Mr Urban lied to the public and Parliament for years about his police service and his education history.

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Among his background details rubbished by the committee was Mr Urban's claim he served as a war crimes investigator in the Balkans.

"The Legislative Assembly finds that the Member for Darling Range, in committing the contempts above, has committed a sustained and gross contempt of Parliament, and has abused the privilege of freedom of speech," the report found.

"The Legislative Assembly expels the Member for Darling Range as a member of the Legislative Assembly, and declares the seat … vacant by reason of such expulsion," the report continued.

The committee also found Mr Urban — in both written submissions that included forged documents, and in his testimony before the committee — deliberately sought to mislead it, with no evidence to back up a string of claims.

Barry Urban's unproven claims: He had a degree from the University of Leeds;

He had a degree from the University of Leeds; He had a Certificate of Higher Education in Policing from the University of Portsmouth;

He had a Certificate of Higher Education in Policing from the University of Portsmouth; He had completed nine out of 10 modules of a Diploma of Local Government;

He had completed nine out of 10 modules of a Diploma of Local Government; He was seconded from West Midlands Police in 1998 and served with the United Nations mission in the Balkans, where he provided security for a team investigating war crimes;

He was seconded from West Midlands Police in 1998 and served with the United Nations mission in the Balkans, where he provided security for a team investigating war crimes; He was posted a service medal by UK authorities;

He was posted a service medal by UK authorities; He subsequently lost such medal;

He subsequently lost such medal; He was entitled to wear such a medal; and

He was entitled to wear such a medal; and He was under a genuine but mistaken belief that he was entitled to wear a replica police overseas service medal.

A parliamentary first avoided

It would have been the first time an MP had been expelled from the WA Parliament, however Mr Urban announced his resignation within minutes of the recommendation, before that could formally happen.

Mr Urban made little comment to the waiting media as he arrived at Parliament. ( ABC News: Eliza Laschon )

He apologised to Parliament and said he was "paying a hefty price" for his mistakes.

"This is a situation that I regret and this will haunt me for the rest of my life," he said.

"I am not a perfect person. I have made mistakes and I am sorry for that.

"The situation has taken me to some very dark places and for the sake of recovery and mental health, I need to look towards the light of what the future brings."

Mr Urban falsely claimed a medal he wore was awarded for police service in the Balkans. ( Facebook: Barry Urban MLA )

It remains unclear if Mr Urban can be charged, despite committee chairman and Speaker Peter Watson raising the prospect of criminal proceedings.

He told the Legislative Assembly that under the criminal code, misleading a parliamentary committee was an offence that could result in up to five years' imprisonment.

"This is not a case of a single error of judgement or a single lapse of rectitude," Mr Watson said.

"The committee does not consider the Member for Darling Range is the person he represented himself as to the electors."

The committee also recommended the Assembly revoke any and all privileges Mr Urban would otherwise have as a former member of parliament.

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How Urban's story unravelled

Mr Urban quit the Labor Party six months ago after admitting a medal he had claimed he was awarded for overseas police service was actually bought online.

He also conceded lying about holding a diploma in local government, saying he had completed "nine out of 10" units of the degree.

Mr Urban apologised "unreservedly" to Premier Mark McGowan, the Parliament and his colleagues at the time, saying he was "seeking to substantiate" other aspects of his service and education history.

Sorry, this video has expired WA MP Barry Urban apologises "unreservedly" to Parliament

But his claim about finishing most of his diploma was later disputed by WA's peak local government body, which said the MP had not actually completed any of the 10 modules in the course.

Two universities Mr Urban claimed to have attended also later revealed they had no record of him — resulting in Mr McGowan referring the matters to the Procedure and Privileges Committee.

Premier accepts 'share of responsibility'

Mr McGowan apologised for his part in the MP's appointment.

"Clearly, the committee was of the view, I think rightfully, that [his actions were] completely and utterly unacceptable," Mr McGowan said.

"[It] is a lesson to all of us in truthfulness and honesty, and I'd like to once again apologise to the people of the electorate of Darling Range."

The Premier earlier told question time he took his "share of responsibility for what's occurred".

Mr Urban's departure from Parliament will prompt another WA by-election in the coming months, following last week's decision by Federal Labor MP Tim Hammond to resign from the seat of Perth for family reasons.