Disgraced former West Australian MP Barry Urban is facing a criminal investigation after his web of lies about his education and work history cost him his job.
WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson revealed on Wednesday he had written to the speaker of the Legislative Assembly to inform parliament of the Major Fraud Squad probe.
The Labor-turned-independent MP for Darling Range quit parliament on Tuesday moments after an inquiry made the unprecedented recommendation he be expelled for committing a "gross and aggravated contempt of parliament".
The Procedure and Privileges Committee found Mr Urban "demonstrated a pattern of serial dishonesty and deception for at least two decades", and even provided a forged university degree from the University of Leeds.
In his letter, Mr Dawson said the committee's findings about the forgery and Mr Urban wearing a commemorative international policing service medal he was not entitled to could be deemed criminal acts.
"Consequently, I intend to instruct the Major Fraud Squad to commence a criminal investigation into the actions of Barry Urban to determine if a criminal act has occurred," Mr Dawson said.
The commissioner also requested any documents and evidence from the committee that might help police.
"I'm not going to pre-empt the outcome the investigation," he told reporters.
Premier Mark McGowan said Mr Urban would face the "full force of the law".
Asked if Mr Urban deserved jail time, Opposition Leader Mike Nahan replied: "First of all, we have to find out if he's liable for it, I don't know, it needs to be explored."
Dr Nahan told reporters no one expected the committee to make the findings it did.
"It's astounding that he would not only lie, but submit fraudulent documents to the privileges committee ... (which) has the powers of a royal commission."
If Mr Urban had been before a royal commission, he would have faced prison time, Dr Nahan said.
He also noted that over the past year, Mr Urban and his office had received $400,000, and he served as an MP "at best very poorly, if at all".
Over the past five months, Mr Urban probably received more than $100,000 in wages alone, including his electoral allowance, and Dr Nahan said it should be explored whether he should pay back the money.
Mr Urban told parliament on Tuesday it was a "situation I regret and it will haunt me for the rest of my life".
His resignation will trigger a by-election for the previously safe Liberal seat of Darling Range, which Mr Urban won with a 5.8 per cent margin in March last year.
