Peter Slipper quits as Speaker

9 Oct 2012, 8:49 pm   -   Source: AAP

Speaker of the Parliament Peter Slipper has resigned his position despite surviving a federal opposition motion to sack him.

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Peter Slipper has stood down as Speaker of the federal parliament, saying he has no rancour toward MPs who previously called for his sacking.

Mr Slipper entered the lower house at about 7.20pm (AEDT) on Tuesday to announce he was voluntarily standing down for the good of the parliament.

"I wish to advise that with great sadness I have decided that I should not continue as your Speaker," the Queensland independent MP told the house from the Speaker's chair.

"Accordingly I'm having arrangements made to tender my resignation to her excellency the governor-general."

Mr Slipper is facing sexual harassment allegations in the Federal Court in a civil case brought by staffer James Ashby.

When parliament returned on Tuesday coalition MPs came out in force to condemn the man elevated by the government to Speaker last November, after court documents revealed another series of text messages allegedly sent by Mr Slipper to Mr Ashby.

One referred to female genitalia as "shell-less mussels" while another described Liberal frontbencher Sophie Mirabella as an "ignorant botch" (sic).

After 2pm (AEDT) Opposition Leader Tony Abbott brought a motion to sack him, claiming the texts showed he was not fit for the office of Speaker.

Crossbenchers Tony Windsor, Rob Oakeshott, Craig Thomson and Adam Bandt joined with Labor to defeat the motion by 70 votes to 69, after a heated two-hour debate.

But it was not enough to save Mr Slipper, who later entered the house for the first time since May - a month after the sexual harassment claim was lodged.

Mr Slipper, who is waiting to see if the Federal Court will grant his application for Mr Ashby's case to be thrown out as an abuse of process, on Tuesday maintained his innocence.

He said he understood the arguments of those who argued against him retaining the Speaker position, describing Mr Abbott as a long time friend.

"I don't hold any thing against the Leader of the Opposition, who I think is a fine character," he said.

"I think it is a singular privilege to have a lady of the amazing stamina that we have as prime minister.

"I leave this position without rancour and with a great deal of sadness."

But Mr Slipper told the house others had put "partisan political interests before the standing of parliament" and that he looked forward to "being vindicated against the false claims".

Ms Gillard had earlier argued in parliament that while the texts - for which Mr Slipper apologised - were clearly "offensive", the court should be left to decide the case.

However, Mr Abbott praised Mr Slipper for his decision.

"He's obviously been through a very difficult period and we do feel for him as a human being," Mr Abbott said.

"He has done the right and honourable thing by resigning from his office.

"In this important respect, he has good judgment."

Ms Gillard said everyone could see the "emotional cost and emotional toll" that Mr Slipper had been through in coming to his decision.

"At a human level each of us would wish the best for him and his family at what is clearly a very distressing and pressurised time," she said.

A new speaker is expected to be announced later on Tuesday night.

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