ARE WE ON A SLIPPERY SLOPE?
We haven’t come a long way from the days when wrongdoers were pelted with tomatoes in the Town Square.
Whatever happened between Speaker Peter Slipper and his adviser James Ashby should be a matter for the Federal Court; instead these men are being dragged through the mud by the major political parties and the judge, jury and executioners of the media.
For his part, Ashby (left) made headlines in Sydney’s Sunday Telegraph yesterday with “Ashby’s Abuse Conviction”. In a clear case of blaming the (alleged) victim, the story detailed how Ashby, a former radio DJ, once made threatening phone calls to a rival announcer – hardly a hanging offence.
Meanwhile, the man dubbed Slippery Slipper was chased from LA to Australia after salacious text messages were printed in the papers.
Immediately, conspiracy theories began circulating: that the Libs leaked the story to the Murdoch media to bring down the government; that James Ashby is a Coalition stooge; that he’s engaged the same lawyers as the Health Services Union national secretary Kathy Jackson.
These rumours may well be true. Politics is a dark art.
Late yesterday, Slipper (left) did the right thing and stepped aside. But there’s an elephant in the room – and this time, it’s not Kevin Rudd. It’s the actual allegations.
If what James Ashby says is true, someone within the office of the highest Minister of the Crown tried to cover up a case of sexual harassment.
According to court documents, in 2003 the Howard government was made aware of an “intimate” video featuring Mr Slipper in bed with another young male staffer. But John Howard’s adviser Tony Nutt is alleged to have swept it under the carpet.
If there are no proper processes within the Federal Government to protect staff members from harassment, it’s a sad indictment indeed.
According to one government charter, “Protection of human rights means that we can live free from fear, harassment or discrimination”.
Let’s look at the other side, now.
If what Peter Slipper says is true – the allegations are incorrect and he looks forward to returning to the speakership – his reputation has been besmirched beyond repair. This is on top of his daily denigration, as a rat or a rorter.
Then there’s the fug of homophobia surrounding the whole affair.
Crikey’s Richard Farmer goes further: “In my reading there is a clear attempt to enlist some old-fashioned homophobia as a weapon to get rid of the Speaker and thus weaken Labor’s hold on power.”
There could be serious political and constitutional ramifications, depending on how the dominoes fall.
But the human story is lost in all this. Remember Kristy Fraser-Kirk?
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13 Responses to this article
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Nikki @ Styling You April 23, 2012
As someone who has lived in Mr Slipper’s electorate all his political life – and worked for a newspaper which as repeatedly reported about his “shortfalls” – I’m most angry at the LNP’s stance on this now. The LNP had cause to – and should have -prevented his pre-selection for the party in this electorate – long before Mr Slipper was enticed into the Speaker’s role.
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leah pallaris April 23, 2012
this story about mr slipper, seems to show us this is the last time he will slip up, in the public eye….
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Jan April 23, 2012
Have missed where the alleged video of 2003 was part of a sexual harassment complaint? If it was, fair enough and it should be pursued, if not, why is it being referenced in Ashby’s complaint?
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Jenny M April 23, 2012
what a surprise (not) double standards by politicians yet again! They’ve known about all sorts of stuff for years and yet no-one took any action. Its all about politics and as you rightly point out in your article the “humans” are simply collateral damage time and time again.
Speaks volumes about our media too. -
Bryce April 23, 2012
I think it’s a bit rich to be arguing that the law is not keeping up to date with the Internet and new media.
Surely there should be first a campaign to make sure “old media” are keeping up to standard. One only needs to look to the very recent defamation case of Gunston v Davies Brothers Ltd to see that “old media” is still continuing to engage in trial by media and slandering defendants.
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Tracey Spicer April 23, 2012
True, Bryce. New and old media are guilty of putting people on trial. Leave it to the courts. I reckon.
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Bushfire Bill April 24, 2012
A thoughtful article, happily devoid of the usual “lynch mob” attitude that has become common from our lazy media.
Plaintiffs in these cases have rights, but so do defendants. This case has an air of “set-up” around it. The charges are, if not weak, then eminently contestable. They centre around where the line is to be drawn between banter and sexual harassment.
The plaintiff has alleged, in one instance, that he suffered damage, requiring monetary compensation, because Slipper said he looked too fat in a polo shirt. Eh? What have we come to when allegations like these make it to the Federal Court, at a cost of thousands of dollars a day?
Both sides have rights. This case is not settled and should be contested. The media care only about the political ramifications from one angle: Slipper’s Speakership and the Gillard government. There is more to this, however, than meets the eye.
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Mutley April 28, 2012
Are Slipper and Ashby cousins?
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Max May 3, 2012
Still singing the governments praises hey Tracey?
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Piper May 4, 2012
You slipped into the mud along time ago Ms Spicer.
