Lieberals deny all knowledge of Slippergate

Typical. Was hardly expecting a big confession. They're lying through their teeth.

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.” 

After the case became public in 2012, Abbott also said he had had no “specific” knowledge of it. 

Asked on Monday whether he or Pyne had had any general knowledge of Ashby’s intentions, the prime minister said: “Well, I certainly stand by everything that I’ve said about this and I am confident that Christopher will stand by everything that he’s said about this business.” 

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. more  

Update:

Pyne is crumbling. He's now admitted meeting Ashby, but reckons Ashby "misinterpreted" the discussion.........  This is a real lesson in double speak. "Would not have used that language"? Oh please.......

On Monday, Mr Pyne confirmed the pair did meet in his office in 2012 when Mr Ashby visited to collect some bottles of wine signed by the then opposition leader Tony Abbott. 

He said it was the third time the two had met. "That conversation was the crux of my involvement aired last night on 60 minutes," the Minister told reporters. 

Mr Pyne confirmed that he had raised the prospect of a Liberal National Party win in the Queensland 2012 state election as a possible avenue for Mr Ashby to seek other employment. 

"He indicated that he was uncomfortable in Mr Slipper's office and I indicated to him that if we won the Queensland state election that would be chance potentially for him to get out of Mr Slipper's office," he 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 then subsequently the federal election there are a lot more jobs available." 

Asked if he intimated an offer of legal help, Mr Pyne said "no solicitor was provided to Mr Ashby". 

He also said he did not ask Mr Ashby why he felt "uncomfortable" working in Mr Slipper's office. "I was generally aware of the tenor of the rumours circulating, but I had no specific knowledge of the allegations," he said. 

Asked if he had threatened to disown Mr Ashby as a "pathological liar" if he went public with their discussion, Mr Pyne said: "Well I certainly would not have used that language".

 

Mr Pyne said, however, that he would have made it clear to Mr Ashby that if Mr Slipper had discovered that his staff were in his (Mr Pyne's) office "telling me they felt uncomfortable" with their boss "I would have indicated that it would affect my relationship with Mr Slipper as the Speaker". Mr Pyne was leader of opposition business in the house at the time. 

Asked why his account of the conversation differed from Mr Ashby's, Mr Pyne said: "Sometimes people misinterpret conversations that are made and that are held." Read more