Mobile phone records of the staffer who's accused federal parliamentary speaker Peter Slipper of sexual harassment showed he and a colleague worked together to undermine their boss, a judge has been told.
Julian Burnside QC, for the commonwealth, said James Ashby and fellow adviser Karen Doane did this while they were still working for Mr Slipper.
He said they provided sensitive material to Steve Lewis, the News Limited journalist who broke the sexual harassment claim story.
They also provided politically sensitive material to political opponents of Mr Slipper, including Howard-era minister Mal Brough, the QC said in the Federal Court on Friday.
Having seen the records, the commonwealth was concerned about the continued employment of Mr Ashby and Ms Doane, Mr Burnside said.
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In his lawsuits against Mr Slipper and the commonwealth, Mr Ashby claimed the Speaker made unwelcome sexual advances and sent him explicit text messages.
The directions hearing is continuing.
