The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Peter Slipper, has released 13 Cabcharge stubs in response to allegations that he's been diddling tax payers out of money. Meanwhile he's still got sex discrimination claims hanging over his head.
Slipper, a former barrister (and ordained priest), has had a pretty crappy month. He was accused of sexual harassment by his former male advisor, James Ashby, who alleged that the Slipper asked him to shower with the door open and enquired as to whether Ashby preferred "twinks or bears." To add to his woes, Ashby included separate allegations within the court documents he filed that Slipper had misused taxpayer-funded Cabcharge dockets by handing over signed but blank vouchers to drivers.
It's reported that Slipper, who is alleged to have repaid $20k in wrongly-claimed entitlements over his 12 years as MP, shelled out more than $45k on taxis and limousines during an 18 month period. According to a Sydney Morning Herald report he regularly spent $300 on taxi rides from his home to airport, once making three trips in a day. In response, he has published photocopies of 13 Cabcharge dockets which he claims were completed by him and show the criminal fraud allegation against him is "a complete fabrication."
For now Slipper has chosen to step down from his seat and is facing mounting pressure not to return until all the charges against him have been dealt with. The sex discrimination case is due to be heard on 21 May.
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Slipper, a former barrister (and ordained priest), has had a pretty crappy month. He was accused of sexual harassment by his former male advisor, James Ashby, who alleged that the Slipper asked him to shower with the door open and enquired as to whether Ashby preferred "twinks or bears." To add to his woes, Ashby included separate allegations within the court documents he filed that Slipper had misused taxpayer-funded Cabcharge dockets by handing over signed but blank vouchers to drivers.
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A barrister who knows he's a bear |
It's reported that Slipper, who is alleged to have repaid $20k in wrongly-claimed entitlements over his 12 years as MP, shelled out more than $45k on taxis and limousines during an 18 month period. According to a Sydney Morning Herald report he regularly spent $300 on taxi rides from his home to airport, once making three trips in a day. In response, he has published photocopies of 13 Cabcharge dockets which he claims were completed by him and show the criminal fraud allegation against him is "a complete fabrication."
For now Slipper has chosen to step down from his seat and is facing mounting pressure not to return until all the charges against him have been dealt with. The sex discrimination case is due to be heard on 21 May.