Helen Kroger (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Bob Carr. I refer the minister to his public comments regarding the James Ashby allegations against the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Peter Slipper. I remind the minister of his tweet of 5 May 2012 which said:

This Ashby seems more rehearsed than a kabuki actor.

I also refer the minister to the recent reports of appalling, derogatory and misogynistic text messages sent by Mr Slipper to Mr Ashby. Given that the Commonwealth has now settled with Mr Ashby for a sum of $50,000, does the minister stand by his previous public comments on this matter and does he believe that Mr Slipper is now an international embarrassment?