Peter Slipper due to be sentenced for using taxi vouchers to tour vineyards

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/24/peter-slipper-due-sentenced

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The disgraced former federal speaker Peter Slipper will soon know his fate for dishonestly using taxpayer-funded travel entitlements.

ACT chief magistrate Lorraine Walker is due to sentence Slipper on Wednesday.

Earlier in the week she was told Slipper had become somewhat of a “pathetic character” since his fall from grace.

His lawyer said the former MP was estranged from his wife, had lost his job, his health, many friends and his good standing in the community.

Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese has said any penalty should take into account the heavy personal price Slipper already had paid.

Slipper was convicted in July of using government-provided taxi vouchers to visit vineyards outside Canberra in 2010. He is appealing against the conviction.