Labor pursues Brough over Slipper case

The federal opposition says Mal Brough's continuing role as a minister amid a police investigation reflects on the prime minister's integrity.

Mal Brough.

Labor says Mal Brough should stand aside while police investigate allegations about Peter Slipper. (AAP) Source: AAP

Labor says Malcolm Turnbull is "running interference" for Mal Brough and should instead stand the minister aside while he's being investigated by police.

Federal Police last week raided Mr Brough's Queensland home and the residence of former Speaker Peter Slipper's staffer James Ashby, amid allegations Mr Slipper's diary was illegally copied in 2012.

Shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus told parliament on Wednesday it was extraordinary the prime minister retained full confidence in Mr Brough.

"Australians expect their government to be trustworthy, to be accountable, to display integrity and the prime minister, while he continues to run interference for the Member for Fisher ... is failing Australians," Mr Dreyfus said.

An excerpt from the search warrant, published by The Australian, said the AFP was investigating whether Mr Brough "counselled and procured" Mr Ashby to disclose extracts from Mr Slipper's official diary and provide those extracts to third parties without authority.

Mr Dreyfus said the aim of the conspiracy had been to destroy Mr Slipper and allow the coalition to take his seat of Fisher in 2013 - which it did with Mr Brough as the candidate.

He said Mr Turnbull should have been well aware of Mr Brough's involvement in the plot when he was appointed to the ministry in September this year.

Mr Turnbull told parliament there was "no new information" since Labor first started asking questions about the matter and he stood by his previous comment that he had confidence in Mr Brough.

Mr Brough said he had nothing further to add in regard to what remained "allegations".

Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Alan Tudge told parliament the coalition was happy to compare its record to the ALP when it came to integrity, as Labor was the party of "Eddie Obeid, Michael Williamson ... and brown paper bags".

Mr Brough has previously admitted on television he asked Mr Ashby, a staffer who had alleged Mr Slipper misused entitlements, to get copies of diary entries.

He argued he believed Mr Slipper was defrauding the Commonwealth.

The former Speaker was found guilty of dishonestly claiming entitlements, but it was overturned on appeal.

Palmer United Party leader Clive Palmer used the debate in parliament to repeat his claim that Mr Brough had asked him in April 2012 to stump up money to pay for Mr Ashby's legal costs in a sexual harassment case against Mr Slipper.

Mr Palmer said he had told Mr Brough it was inappropriate to fund a politically motivated court case.

"The prime minister has the highest standards of personal integrity and deserves to have ministers of the highest integrity as well," he said.


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Source: AAP



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