Peter Slipper. Picture: Gary Ramage Source: News Limited
AN investigation by News Limited triggered a Federal Police probe that has led to former Speaker Peter Slipper facing criminal charges for allegedly concealing $1200 of luxury hire-car travel.
Court documents filed by the Australian Federal Police reveal Canberra-based Berris Crossin drove Mr Slipper on two occasions to upmarket wineries in 2010, during which he allegedly engaged in "dishonest" use of a Commonwealth credit card.
Another limousine driver, Gary Green, was also involved in a 2010 trip to some of the national capital's best wineries during which Mr Slipper allegedly asked to "break up payment" so the $337.00 fare could be "processed easier". Mr Green is alleged to have responded "whatever way you want".
Key allegations raised in the court documents were first made public by News Limited in April 2012.
A seven-page AFP statement of facts, tabled in the ACT Magistrates Court, alleges that Mr Slipper "knew that his use of the (Commonwealth) credit card was dishonest" as he sought to settle accounts during three visits to wineries and restaurants in 2010.
The MP who was represented in court yesterday by Brisbane lawyer Peter Russo is facing three charges for allegedly concealing $1,200 in luxury hire-car trips.
If found guilty, Mr Slipper could be forced to exit parliament and he could also potentially lose his generous parliamentary pension.
Mr Russo, speaking outside the ACT Magistrates Court yesterday after the matter was adjourned to March 25, said it was "mystifying" as to why the Commonwealth had pursued criminal allegations against his client over a relatively small sum.
"In my experience matters of that amount aren't dealt with through the court system," he said.
"It's difficult to understand what the public interest would be in prosecuting this matter."
The AFP allege Mr Slipper, twice accompanied by a friend, would take the hire cars to several wineries each time, going inside for between 10 minutes and an hour and 40 minutes, and then paying with multiple Cabcharge vouchers.
On January 20 2010, it's alleged Mr Slipper and a male associate were collected from Parliament House and discussed buying some wine before the former speaker directed the driver on a five-hour spin to six wineries around Canberra.
When finished, it is alleged Mr Slipper asked the driver, Mr Green, to drive them to a Canberra home so they could get changed before dinner.
It's alleged when Mr Slipper came back outside, he told Mr Green they would no longer be going to dinner and asked: "Could we process this manually and break up payment putting it down as suburb to suburb so it's processed earlier?"
He paid for the $337 fare with four blank but signed vouchers.
On April 19, it's alleged Mr Slipper and a staffer were picked up by Ms Crossin from a different Canberra house and visited four wineries.
"It appears Mr Slipper may have been accompanied by his staffer, Timothy Knapp as Knapp's credit card shows a purchase at the third winery visited," the statement of facts says.
Mr Knapp's credit card was also used to buy $42 worth of chinese food near where the men were dropped off, it says.
It's alleged Mr Slipper filled out five manual Cabcharge vouchers totalling $495 for the winery tour and an earlier trip for $120, marking each as trips between "suburbs" or "suburbs and Parliament House.
On June 27, the same driver picked up Mr Slipper from a Canberra shopping centre, stopped briefly at Parliament House and then took him to Poacher's Pantry, where he stayed for "99 minutes".
Credit card records shows he spent $70 inside.
It's alleged he then ordered the hire car to Shaw Estate Vineyard for 10 minutes before he was taken back to Canberra.
That trip, plus three more taken that day, cost $362 and were paid with five Cabcharge dockets Mr Slipper filled out as being between the airport, Parliament House, the city and "suburbs", the document says.
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