Australia’s Speaker Quits Over Law Suit For Sexual Harassment to a Gay Man

 

The Speaker Mr Slipper is accused of sexual harassment by a former staff member( a gay man), and of sending sexual text messages, now revealed in court documents.

His resignation could harm Ms Gillard's slender majority, which relies on votes from independent MPs.

Mr Slipper defected from opposition leader Tony Abbot's Liberal Party last year, becoming an independent.

He was swiftly promoted to the non-voting role of Speaker, freeing up his predecessor - Labour member Harry Jenkins - and effectively giving Ms Gillard a two-seat majority in the House.

Emotional

His resignation now means Ms Gillard is dependent on Mr Slipper as an independent to help pass legislation.

Mr Slipper appeared to fight back tears in an emotional return to the House to announce his decision to resign, saying it was made with "great sadness" and regret.

His resignation followed a heated debate between Ms Gillard and Mr Abbot on Tuesday, with Mr Abbot accusing Mr Slipper of not being a "fit and proper" person for position of Speaker.

On Monday, court documents filed as part of a sexual harassment lawsuit being brought against him gave details of lurid text messages he is alleged to have sent his accuser, who is openly gay.

Mr Slipper, who is married, earlier apologised for the content of the text messages. He also denies the charges of sexual harassment.

He had been absent from parliament since April when he voluntarily stepped aside while the case against him was investigated.

The Other “man” Mr. Ashby

BBC

adamfoxie* : The other half of the story below

James Ashby

  

THE sexual harassment case against Sunshine Coast MP Peter Slipper will go ahead in the Federal Court today after mediation talks failed yesterday.

Mr Slipper's former adviser James Ashby is suing the MP (pictured), alleging he was involved in inappropriate conduct, including sending lewd text messages.

Mr Ashby's spokesman, Anthony McClellan, read a statement to the media outside the Federal Court yesterday as the former adviser stood silent, refusing to say anything or take any questions.

Mr McClellan said what happened in the mediation session yesterday was confidential.

"Mr Ashby has consistently maintained that his motivations in bringing this case were one to stop Mr Slipper, and his conduct against him, to prevent recurrence of that conduct in relation to parliamentary staff, current and future and that this is not a case about money.

"The case will now return to the Federal Court here tomorrow morning at 9.30am to proceed against Mr Slipper and to hold the Commonwealth to the settlement that they offered and that we accepted."

After slipping into the court yesterday morning unseen, Mr Slipper was ordered by the judge to use the public exit.

Flanked by his legal team Mr Ashby earlier yesterday braved the waiting media in front of the court but lawyers told reporters he could not comment and warned "the judge will get angry if he can't get into the court".

Mr Slipper is believed to have been driven through a side-entry in a Commonwealth car and managed to avoid the cameras.

Mr Ashby, 33, claims Mr Slipper sexually harassed him while working for the Speaker earlier this year.

Late last week it was revealed Mr Ashby had reached a $50,000 settlement with the Federal Government, which he was suing for failing to provide a safe work place.

The Sunshine Coast MP was a no-show at Tuesday's hearing, attracting a stern rebuke from Justice Steven Rares, who said it was a "completely outrageous piece of behaviour by someone who should know better".

In ordering the mediation Justice Rares said "something has to happen" and the time had come to "knock people's heads together".