Turnbull sticks by Brough over Slipper

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull doesn't believe Mal Brough should step down from the ministry after being visited by federal police.

Federal Liberal National MP Mal Brough

Federal government minister Mal Brough has confirmed federal police "visited" his Queensland home. (AAP)

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is standing by Mal Brough after the minister admitted he was "visited" by federal police over an investigation involving former Speaker Peter Slipper.

The special minister of state confirmed on Thursday AFP officers came to his Queensland home over allegations he obtained a copy of Mr Slipper's diary.

Mr Brough, who replaced the former Speaker in the seat of Fisher, said he provided exactly the same material to officers he previously had given the Federal Court.

"Furthermore I advised the AFP that I would be happy to meet with them at any time in the future if need be," he said in a statement.

His comments come two days after the home of James Ashby, a former staffer of Mr Slipper, was also searched.

He made sexual harassment allegations in 2012 against his then boss but after a two-year court battle abandoned the case.

Mr Turnbull said he had no reason to doubt the material Mr Brough provided to police had already been made public.

"At this stage there's nothing to suggest that Mr Brough should stand aside or do anything of that kind," he told reporters in Manila on the sidelines of the APEC summit.

"Naturally he is providing complete co-operation with the investigation, as he should."

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said it wasn't a good look for Mr Brough, but he didn't know whether he should step down in the meantime.

"He and (ministers) Christopher Pyne and Wyatt Roy need to come out and spell out their role working with James Ashby in bringing down former Speaker Peter Slipper," he told reporters in Sydney.

If they spell out their involvement, Mr Shorten thinks people will be satisfied.

Mr Brough, a former Howard government minister, told the Nine Network last September he had directed Mr Ashby to procure copies of the diary in 2012 for his use.

The minister has since dismissed the comment as a misunderstanding.

Mr Slipper won an appeal in February against three convictions relating to the misuse of taxpayer-funded Cabcharges.


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Source: AAP



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