This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/08/christopher-pyne-says-he-knew-james-ashby-was-uncomfortable-with-peter-slipper
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Christopher Pyne says he knew James Ashby was 'uncomfortable' with Peter Slipper | Christopher Pyne says he knew James Ashby was 'uncomfortable' with Peter Slipper |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Christopher Pyne has admitted James Ashby confided he was “uncomfortable” working for former speaker Peter Slipper and that they discussed how alternative jobs could be available after the Queensland and federal elections, but has said he did not intend to offer Ashby a job or legal assistance. | Christopher Pyne has admitted James Ashby confided he was “uncomfortable” working for former speaker Peter Slipper and that they discussed how alternative jobs could be available after the Queensland and federal elections, but has said he did not intend to offer Ashby a job or legal assistance. |
| In an interview on Sunday, Ashby claimed Pyne had promised him he would receive a lawyer and a job in either state or federal politics after Ashby, who was Slipper’s media adviser, spoke to the senior frontbencher before launching legal action against Slipper alleging sexual harassment. | In an interview on Sunday, Ashby claimed Pyne had promised him he would receive a lawyer and a job in either state or federal politics after Ashby, who was Slipper’s media adviser, spoke to the senior frontbencher before launching legal action against Slipper alleging sexual harassment. |
| In a statement after Ashby’s interview with Channel Nine’s 60 Minutes, Pyne said: “I had no specific knowledge of the allegations made by Mr Ashby and the first I knew that he was suing Mr Slipper was when I read it in the newspapers.” | In a statement after Ashby’s interview with Channel Nine’s 60 Minutes, Pyne said: “I had no specific knowledge of the allegations made by Mr Ashby and the first I knew that he was suing Mr Slipper was when I read it in the newspapers.” |
| Speaking to journalists on Monday, Pyne said he stood by that statement, but elaborated on what he had been told at a 2012 meeting when Ashby came to his parliament house office to collect some bottles of wine, signed by then opposition leader Tony Abbott, as a gift for a departing staffer. | Speaking to journalists on Monday, Pyne said he stood by that statement, but elaborated on what he had been told at a 2012 meeting when Ashby came to his parliament house office to collect some bottles of wine, signed by then opposition leader Tony Abbott, as a gift for a departing staffer. |
| “When I had a brief meeting with Mr Ashby we discussed the fact that the Queensland state election was coming very soon. He indicated that he was uncomfortable in Mr Slipper’s office and I indicated to him if we won the Queensland state election that would be a chance potentially for him to get out of Mr Slipper’s office. “ | “When I had a brief meeting with Mr Ashby we discussed the fact that the Queensland state election was coming very soon. He indicated that he was uncomfortable in Mr Slipper’s office and I indicated to him if we won the Queensland state election that would be a chance potentially for him to get out of Mr Slipper’s office. “ |
| He said rumours about Slipper had “circulated” in parliament house. “I certainly did not know about the allegations [Ashby] subsequently made against Mr Slipper. Did I know he felt uncomfortable in Peter Slipper’s office? Yes, I did and that would not have been unusual because of rumours that had circulated about Mr Slipper for some time,” Pyne said. | He said rumours about Slipper had “circulated” in parliament house. “I certainly did not know about the allegations [Ashby] subsequently made against Mr Slipper. Did I know he felt uncomfortable in Peter Slipper’s office? Yes, I did and that would not have been unusual because of rumours that had circulated about Mr Slipper for some time,” Pyne said. |
| “Certainly my intention was never to lead him to believe a job would be provided to him, but obviously if we won the Queensland state election and subsequently the federal election – when you are in government there are a lot more jobs available than when you are in opposition and if he felt uncomfortable in Mr Slipper’s office that would be a chance for him to get out,” Pyne said. | “Certainly my intention was never to lead him to believe a job would be provided to him, but obviously if we won the Queensland state election and subsequently the federal election – when you are in government there are a lot more jobs available than when you are in opposition and if he felt uncomfortable in Mr Slipper’s office that would be a chance for him to get out,” Pyne said. |
| He said he also did not intend to give Ashby the impression that he would organise legal advice for him. | He said he also did not intend to give Ashby the impression that he would organise legal advice for him. |
| Pyne refused to say whether he had spoken about the Ashby case – before it became public – with the prime minister or other colleagues. | Pyne refused to say whether he had spoken about the Ashby case – before it became public – with the prime minister or other colleagues. |
| “I have lots of conversations with my colleagues about all sorts of colleagues. As manager of opposition business in the house, colleagues sometimes come to me when they have staff issues or that they’re aware of staffing issues,” he said. “If that was the case, it would be the normal and correct thing for me to do to provide that support and information to my colleagues. I’m not going to breach their privacy.” | “I have lots of conversations with my colleagues about all sorts of colleagues. As manager of opposition business in the house, colleagues sometimes come to me when they have staff issues or that they’re aware of staffing issues,” he said. “If that was the case, it would be the normal and correct thing for me to do to provide that support and information to my colleagues. I’m not going to breach their privacy.” |
| Tony Abbott has also refused to say whether he had any “general” knowledge of James Ashby’s sexual harassment claim before it was lodged. | Tony Abbott has also refused to say whether he had any “general” knowledge of James Ashby’s sexual harassment claim before it was lodged. |
| But both the prime minister and Pyne said the issue should be laid to rest as part of the parliament’s “sordid” Labor past. | But both the prime minister and Pyne said the issue should be laid to rest as part of the parliament’s “sordid” Labor past. |
| Abbott said on Monday that “squalid, sordid, miserable period in our national life … is now all in the past”. | Abbott said on Monday that “squalid, sordid, miserable period in our national life … is now all in the past”. |
| Sexually explicit emails revealed in the course of Ashby’s legal action forced Slipper to resign as speaker, a position he had controversially taken up after defecting from the Coalition in a move that bolstered Labor’s precarious position in the hung parliament and angered his former colleagues. They also revealed Ashby had discussed his intentions with the LNP candidate for Slipper’s seat, Mal Brough. | Sexually explicit emails revealed in the course of Ashby’s legal action forced Slipper to resign as speaker, a position he had controversially taken up after defecting from the Coalition in a move that bolstered Labor’s precarious position in the hung parliament and angered his former colleagues. They also revealed Ashby had discussed his intentions with the LNP candidate for Slipper’s seat, Mal Brough. |
| In the 60 Minutes interview, Ashby claimed he had discussed the issue with Pyne, after sharing his concerns about the Speaker’s alleged behaviour with another Coalition MP, Wyatt Roy. | In the 60 Minutes interview, Ashby claimed he had discussed the issue with Pyne, after sharing his concerns about the Speaker’s alleged behaviour with another Coalition MP, Wyatt Roy. |
| “I sat down at his desk and I said to him [Pyne]: ‘Wyatt’s discussed my situation with you.’ He didn’t really acknowledge the question. He sort of just allowed me to continue talking. And I said to him, ‘I just need to know that my job is safe and that a lawyer will be provided.’ And he said they would. He did say to me, though, that I may never want to come back to Canberra, that I may choose to take up a job within state politics instead,” Ashby alleged. | “I sat down at his desk and I said to him [Pyne]: ‘Wyatt’s discussed my situation with you.’ He didn’t really acknowledge the question. He sort of just allowed me to continue talking. And I said to him, ‘I just need to know that my job is safe and that a lawyer will be provided.’ And he said they would. He did say to me, though, that I may never want to come back to Canberra, that I may choose to take up a job within state politics instead,” Ashby alleged. |
| “I think what he was trying to do is pre-warn me that things are gonna get hot. And I remember the conversation didn’t last too long at all. We literally got up from his table, he walked me towards the door, he said to me, ‘You’re a braver man than I am,’ as we exited and said, ‘If you discuss or tell anyone we’ve had this discussion, I’ll be forced to come out publicly and call you a pathological liar.’” | “I think what he was trying to do is pre-warn me that things are gonna get hot. And I remember the conversation didn’t last too long at all. We literally got up from his table, he walked me towards the door, he said to me, ‘You’re a braver man than I am,’ as we exited and said, ‘If you discuss or tell anyone we’ve had this discussion, I’ll be forced to come out publicly and call you a pathological liar.’” |
| Ashby said the meeting had strengthened his resolve to make his legal claim against the speaker. | Ashby said the meeting had strengthened his resolve to make his legal claim against the speaker. |
| “Yeah, sure. It gave me a lot more confidence knowing that the complaint I was about to make wasn’t going to be held against me, because I hadn’t done anything wrong,” he said. | “Yeah, sure. It gave me a lot more confidence knowing that the complaint I was about to make wasn’t going to be held against me, because I hadn’t done anything wrong,” he said. |
| Ashby said he had gone to see Pyne under the guise of picking up a bottle of wine, in order to double-check Roy’s claim that he had been discussing Ashby’s situation with the then shadow minister. | Ashby said he had gone to see Pyne under the guise of picking up a bottle of wine, in order to double-check Roy’s claim that he had been discussing Ashby’s situation with the then shadow minister. |
| After Ashby lodged his legal claim and allegations were raised that he had met Pyne, the then shadow minister issued a statement saying: “In the course of my work ... I have had cause to meet Mr James Ashby three times – twice in the Speaker’s office and once when he came to my office to collect wine being given to a former Coalition staffer as a farewell gift. | After Ashby lodged his legal claim and allegations were raised that he had met Pyne, the then shadow minister issued a statement saying: “In the course of my work ... I have had cause to meet Mr James Ashby three times – twice in the Speaker’s office and once when he came to my office to collect wine being given to a former Coalition staffer as a farewell gift. |
| “On no occasion did he raise the matters canvassed in the federal court action that have subsequently come to light with me. I have had no telephone contact with Mr Ashby at any time. Attempts by the Labor party to suggest a political conspiracy are fanciful.” | “On no occasion did he raise the matters canvassed in the federal court action that have subsequently come to light with me. I have had no telephone contact with Mr Ashby at any time. Attempts by the Labor party to suggest a political conspiracy are fanciful.” |
| In the interview, Ashby insisted that he had discussed the matter with Pyne, and that the assurances about legal help and a job had been made, but he said by the time he lodged his claim, it had been “made very clear to me there would be no jobs, no lawyer, no preferential treatment … it was made very clear to me there was no offer”. | In the interview, Ashby insisted that he had discussed the matter with Pyne, and that the assurances about legal help and a job had been made, but he said by the time he lodged his claim, it had been “made very clear to me there would be no jobs, no lawyer, no preferential treatment … it was made very clear to me there was no offer”. |
| In June, Ashby dropped his legal case against the former speaker, two years after he first alleged Slipper had sexually harassed him. | In June, Ashby dropped his legal case against the former speaker, two years after he first alleged Slipper had sexually harassed him. |
| A Labor backbencher has asked the director of public prosecutions to investigate whether Ashby perjured himself in his original complaint against Slipper after Ashby’s interview. | |
| And the Victorian MP, Michael Danby, said Tony Abbott should “very carefully consider” the admission from Liberal National MP Mal Brough that he did take information from Slipper’s diary. | |
| “Taking him at his word, James Ashby claims to have been induced by Liberal MPs into making his sordid claims against Peter Slipper. What he told 60 Minutes last night about these alleged inducements directly contradicts what Mr Ashby put on oath in a sworn affidavit. Accordingly, I will be writing to the commonwealth director of public prosecutions today, inviting him to immediately investigate whether perjury has occurred,” Danby said. | |
| And he likened Brough’s admission to the Watergate burglaries, saying it amounted to “directing a G Gordon-Liddy-style black-ops misappropriation of the then speaker Slipper’s confidential diary”. |