By Bianca Hall
THE Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, has, for the first time, said he was aware rumours had circulated in Parliament about the conduct of the Speaker, Peter Slipper, before allegations against him surfaced.
Mr Slipper is accused by his former adviser James Ashby of sexual harassment and misusing Commonwealth taxi dockets.
Satisfied … Tony Abbott, at Parramatta Leagues Club yesterday, said none of his colleagues had specific knowledge of the Slipper matter.Credit: Janie Barrett
It has since been alleged that while Mr Ashby worked for Mr Slipper, he tried to promote the preselection of Mr Slipper's rival and former Howard government minister Mal Brough, discussed his allegations with Mr Brough and met the manager of opposition business, Christopher Pyne.
Mr Brough, who is seeking pre-selection for Mr Slipper's Liberal National Party seat of Fisher, first claimed he had no knowledge of the case, before later saying he had advised Mr Ashby on how to handle his complaint.
Mr Abbott yesterday said he would not go into all the conversations he had on the matter.
''But I am satisfied none of my federal parliamentary colleagues had any specific knowledge of this until they saw it in the newspaper,'' he said.
Asked whether he had other knowledge of the matter, Mr Abbott said: ''Well, all sorts of rumours go around the Parliament at all sorts of times.''
He declined to elaborate on the rumours, telling the ABC there had been ''far too much gratuitous commentary about this case''.
''And I think the case should be left in the hands of the court to do its job,'' Mr Abbott said.
''Frankly, senior ministers in the government who have been out there offering a running commentary on the case, particularly the Attorney-General, should pull their heads in.''
On Friday the Federal Court heard Mr Slipper intended to refer Mr Ashby to the Australian Federal Police over claims he sent copies of the Speaker's diary to Mr Brough and the News Ltd journalist Steve Lewis.
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