Australia: Peter Slipper, key lawmaker, charged with sexual harassment of male adviser

Peter Slipper — Australia's parliamentary speaker, who is crucial to the future of the government — has denied claims he sexually harassed a young male adviser and misused taxi vouchers.

James Ashby, a former aide of Slipper, has filed a lawsuit alleging that he was sexually harassed over a period of months by the independent lawmaker.

Ashby, 33, has also accused Slipper, 62, of misusing taxpayer-funded taxi vouchers.

Slipper, who is traveling overseas, has denied claims published by several Murdoch publications on Saturday, according to the Australian Associated Press.

In court documents obtained by The Daily Telegraph, Ashby alleged Slipper only recruited him "for the purpose of pursuing a sexual relationship."

He is also accused of making "unwelcome suggestions of a sexual nature" through mobile phone text messages and in private conversations.

Slipper would regularly send "bizarre" kisses to him by ending text messages with an "X," according to the Telegraph. One text from Slipper to Ashby merely read "xxx," the documents reportedly say.

Slipper also allegedly asked Ashby to shower with the bathroom door open at his home in the Australian capital, Canberra.

And after complaining of having a sore neck, Mr Slipper arranged for a massage, during which he made moaning noises indicating "intense sexual pleasure".

It is alleged that Slipper also asking whether the adviser preferred "twinks or bears" — homosexual slang.

Slipper took to Twitter early on Saturday morning to deny the claims, tweeting:

The allegations in News Ltd papers are denied! — Peter Slipper MP (@PeterSlipperMP) April 20, 2012

They were "a surprise to me," he later added.

He also told Australian media at Los Angeles airport: "All allegations are denied."

The Daily Telegraph also reported that the Australian Federal Police had been asked to investigate whether Slipper misused Cabcharges, a taxpayer-funded perk.

The allegation is that Slipper signed several blank Cabcharge vouchers that were later filled out by a limousine driver.

Slipper, who previously belonged to an opposition conservative party, became Speaker in the Australian parliament in 2011, effectively giving the minority Labor government two extra votes.

Ashby is seeking a court order that Slipper undergo counseling and training in anti-discrimination, and also compensation from the federal government and Slipper himself.