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Peter Slipper diary: no charges for Ashby or Brough as AFP drop investigation Peter Slipper diary: no charges for Ashby or Brough as AFP drop investigation
(35 minutes later)
Australian federal police have ended their investigation into the alleged copying of former Speaker Peter Slipper’s diary, advising Mal Brough and James Ashby no charges will be laid against them.Australian federal police have ended their investigation into the alleged copying of former Speaker Peter Slipper’s diary, advising Mal Brough and James Ashby no charges will be laid against them.
The two-year investigation examined claims that Ashby, a former adviser to Slipper, illegally copied the then federal parliamentary speaker’s diary at the behest of Brough, then an MP.The two-year investigation examined claims that Ashby, a former adviser to Slipper, illegally copied the then federal parliamentary speaker’s diary at the behest of Brough, then an MP.
It included raids last year on the offices and homes of Brough and Ashby, the affair ultimately costing Brough his post of special minister of state and prompting his exit from federal politics.It included raids last year on the offices and homes of Brough and Ashby, the affair ultimately costing Brough his post of special minister of state and prompting his exit from federal politics.
Ashby, now chief of staff to One Nation leader and Queensland senator Pauline Hanson, said Brough had paid “the ultimate price” for supporting him, including by giving advice before Ashby filed an unsuccessful sexual harassment claim against Slipper.Ashby, now chief of staff to One Nation leader and Queensland senator Pauline Hanson, said Brough had paid “the ultimate price” for supporting him, including by giving advice before Ashby filed an unsuccessful sexual harassment claim against Slipper.
He said the investigation came “as a result of what was nothing more than a political campaign by Labor”.He said the investigation came “as a result of what was nothing more than a political campaign by Labor”.
I've not commented 2 media & won't be doing so. I've been put thru hell over the last few years. I just want 2 get on with my life #auspol
“I hold the utmost respect for the bloke because he begrudgingly took on that case of mine knowing full well it was a hot topic, it was a topic that most people would have run from and he didn’t,” Ashby told Guardian Australia.“I hold the utmost respect for the bloke because he begrudgingly took on that case of mine knowing full well it was a hot topic, it was a topic that most people would have run from and he didn’t,” Ashby told Guardian Australia.
Ashby said Brough “stuck by me to the very end” despite “character assassination attempts done on both himself and myself”.Ashby said Brough “stuck by me to the very end” despite “character assassination attempts done on both himself and myself”.
“Ultimately I think this will go some way toward helping clear that smear,” he said.“Ultimately I think this will go some way toward helping clear that smear,” he said.
“But the damage is done. The bloke’s lost his career and, look, regardless of which side you want to bat for in respect of politics, he was a good bloke.”“But the damage is done. The bloke’s lost his career and, look, regardless of which side you want to bat for in respect of politics, he was a good bloke.”
The AFP investigation was launched in the wake of Ashby’s ill-fated claim after a complaint by Slipper. The AFP investigation was launched in the wake of Ashby’s ill-fated claim after a complaint by Slipper. Ashby’s allegations of harassment had prompted Slipper’s resignation as Speaker in 2012.
Slipper quit the Liberal National party upon taking the post in 2011 in a hung parliament during the Gillard government.
On Tuesday Slipper said on Twitter he gone through “hell” over the past few years and now just wanted to get on with his life.
I've not commented 2 media & won't be doing so. I've been put thru hell over the last few years. I just want 2 get on with my life #auspol
He thanked supporters for their backing through “an ongoing nightmare”.
In a statement the AFP defended the time taken for the investigation, which “was influenced by a number of factors, including, but not limited to the availability of individuals to provide statements, the provision of materials from third parties, and the substantial volume of material that needed to be assessed”.
“Following a thorough investigation material was provided to the Commonwealth director of public prosecutions for certain advice. As a result of the advice provided by the CDPP, the matter did not proceed further.”
The Australian reported that the AFP wrote to Brough’s lawyers saying they would be “taking no further action in relation to the matter”.
A review of the evidence had determined it was “not sufficient to prove all elements of the relevant offence”,AFP assistant commissioner Shane Connelly said.
Brough told the newspaper he could not fathom how the investigation had taken two years, but he “always knew this was the outcome because at no stage did I do anything that was inappropriate, let alone criminal”.
“I did everything in my power to co-operate yet sadly for my family there has been an avalanche of publicity and political smear,” he said.
Ashby described Slipper’s complaint that he copied the diary without the former Speaker’s authority as a “vexatious claim”, saying that “like Brough, I knew that this wouldn’t go anywhere”.
“So relief? No, not really. But it is nice knowing you don’t have to fork out any further money on legal representation,” he said, adding he had been forced to have lawyers on call in the year since the raids.
“None of that will ever be refunded. This has only come at a cost to myself and Mal Brough, no one else. And those sorts of things can’t ever be taken back.”
Ashby said the AFP had “always treated me with respect during their investigation, but this could have been avoided if the Labor party didn’t play political games”.