AFP investigate Peter Slipper travel claims

May 2nd, 2012

FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda

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The Australian Federal Police has launched a formal investigation into claims the Speaker of the House of Representatives Peter Slipper, abused his travel entitlements. The Government has sought to increase pressure on the Opposition, claiming it knew more than its letting on, in the case brought against Mr Slipper by his staffer, James Ashby.

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KIM LANDERS: The Federal Opposition frontbencher, Christopher Pyne, says he does not remember asking for the contact details of the man who’s made criminal allegations against the Speaker, Peter Slipper.

Former staffer, James Ashby, has accused Mr Slipper of misusing travel entitlements and sexually harassing him; claims Mr Slipper denies.

Fairfax papers report that Mr Pyne sent an email and a text message requesting Mr Asbhy’s contact details, shortly after the two shared a beer in Mr Slipper’s parliamentary office. And this was weeks before Mr Asbhy lodged his official complaint.

The Federal Government says the Opposition needs to be transparent about the contact it’s had with Mr Ashby.

Meanwhile Federal Police have confirmed they’ve launched an official investigation into the fraud claims levelled against Mr Slipper.

Chief political correspondent, Sabra Lane.

SABRA LANE: Friday week ago, James Ashby lodged a claim before the Federal Court alleging he was a victim of sexual harassment. The alleged culprit: his boss, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Peter slipper.

Mr Asbhy also claimed Mr Slipper had abused his parliamentary travel entitlements.

The day after he made the claims the case was referred to the AFP, and it’s now decided to formally investigate the fraud claims.

Police say they spoke with a number of potential witnesses and gathered information before deciding to start the formal inquiry. And now that it’s underway, they won’t say anything further because it could jeopardise the integrity of their investigation.

On the weekend, Opposition frontbencher, Mr Pyne said he’d met Mr Ashby before, but their contact had been brief.

Late yesterday Fairfax reported that Mr Pyne and Mr Asbhy shared a beer and a chat in Mr Slipper’s office at 9.30pm on March the 19th, while Mr Pyne waited for Mr Slipper who was in Parliament presiding over an adjournment debate.

The meeting happened a month before Mr Asbhy lodged his complaint.

Mr Asbhy and Mr Pyne reportedly talked for about an hour, and it’s claimed Mr Pyne sought Mr Asbhy’s contact details. Yesterday Mr Pyne said he couldn’t remember asking for them.

But Fairfax reports this morning that Mr Pyne sent an email and a text message seeking the details.

Mr Pyne was asked about it on ABC Radio in Adelaide.

CHRISTOPHER PYNE: Well I don’t remember asking for those, but by the same token I could well have. I mean why wouldn’t I? I mean the more contacts I have in the Speaker’s office the better, since it’s part of my job to liaise with the Speaker and his office and to stay abreast of developments.

Obviously if I asked for his contact details it was for that purpose.

REPORTER: Have you spoken to him on the phone? Have you used that number? Have you used that email address?

CHRISTOPHER PYNE: No. I’ve never spoken to James Ashby on the phone and I’ve never texted him on the phone.

SABRA LANE: The Minister for Ageing and Mental Health Mark Butler.

MARK BUTLER: The problem for Christopher is that he gave the impression on Sunday that the only contact he’d had with Mr Slipper’s staff was casual. I think he said, you know, he walks into the reception area and says hello. And then it emerged that he spent a couple of hours drinking with Mr Ashby.

He then denied asking for Mr Ashby’s details. And it’s emerged on the front page of the Sydney Morning Herald yesterday sorry today – that he sent an SMS and an email asking for those details.

Also, look, I think everyone in Parliament knows that at 9.30 the Speaker will not be in his office for one hour, he’ll be in the adjournment in the chair between 9.30 and 10.30. So Christopher’s been in Parliament a lot longer than I have, if you rock up to the Speaker’s office at 9.30 you can be pretty much assured that you’re not going to see the Speaker for about an hour.

SABRA LANE: The Trade Minister Craig Emerson has more questions for Mr Pyne.

CRAIG EMERSON: If Mr Pyne is saying that he had no need to contact Mr Ashby, why did Mr Pyne seek Mr Ashby’s contact details through both an email and through a text message and receive, in response to those requests, Mr Ashby’s contact details?

SABRA LANE: The Government is suspicious about the Opposition’s involvement in Mr Ashby’s case, yet the Coalition says the Government’s looking for a conspiracy, when none exits.

Mr Emerson has made up his mind.

CRAIG EMERSON: Obviously there’s a cover up going on. There’s no doubt that there is a cover up going on. You have Mr Abbott saying he had no specific knowledge. It is not a coincidence that Mr Pyne used exactly the same phraseology. Obviously Mr Abbott and Mr Pyne have gotten together to use the term ‘specific knowledge’ to cover up the fact that obviously they had some knowledge. That the LNP, Liberal and National Parties, had prior knowledge of the preparation of this document.

Why not simply say that they had prior knowledge but they weren’t involved. Why evade the truth that obviously they had prior knowledge. I think these are legitimate questions to ask on behalf of the Australian people.

SABRA LANE: This is a messy story: both sides have sought the upper hand. For the Prime Minister it’s a question of her judgement, as she stood by Mr Slipper as speaker, until the weekend when she said he’d agreed to stand aside from the job, until all legal matters were resolved.

Many in Labor’s ranks, including people who say they are loyal Gillard supporters, are despairing at the Prime Minister for installing Mr Slipper in the job, given a long history of concerns about his travel claims.

They’re also frustrated that Ms Gillard stood by Craig Thomson for so long; only sidelining him from Labor Party on the weekend.

Given the party’s primary polling appears stuck in the high 20s and low 30s, some MPs, including once-loyal Gillard fans, are convinced the party is headed for electoral oblivion.

But therein lies the problem for Labor, there is no obvious plan B for the party; it’s hoping next week’s budget will help turn its fortunes around.

KIM LANDERS: Chief political correspondent, Sabra Lane.