Former Western Australian treasurer Troy Buswell has faced court for the first time, charged with a string of domestic violence offences.

Mr Buswell, whose political life was marred by scandals, is facing seven charges, including aggravated assault occasioning bodily harm and unlawful damage.

It is alleged he was repeatedly violent towards his partner between April 2015 and December 2019 in the Perth suburbs of Subiaco and Southern River, and in the Vasse region south of the city, which used to be his electorate.

One of the attacks is said to have occurred on Valentine’s Day in 2016.

The damage charge relates to her door.

Mr Buswell faced Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday, speaking only to say he understood the charges.

The 53-year-old is the chief executive of soil and mulch company Eclipse Soils. A spokesman said last month he had gone on leave “for health and family reasons”.

Mr Buswell joined the WA parliament in 2005 but quit politics in 2014 after revelations he had a string of car crashes while returning home from a wedding, seemingly intoxicated.

He was convicted of 11 traffic offences, fined, paid for damage and was disqualified from driving for one year. He was not charged with drink-driving because he did not have a breathalyser test.

The other discretions of Mr Buswell, who was a one-time heir apparent to then-premier Colin Barnett, included sniffing the chair of a Liberal staffer in 2008 while writhing in mock sexual pleasure and an affair with then-Greens MP Adele Carles in 2010.

He had his case adjourned until May 13 while he seeks legal advice and declined to speak to media outside.

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