Jonathan Swan and Judith Ireland January 9, 2013
Peter Slipper's trips.
FORMER Speaker Peter Slipper could be jailed if found guilty of a taxpayer-funded tour of wineries using his government Cabcharge card, lawyers say.
''The starting point for this has got to be jail,'' said Canberra criminal lawyer Rachel Bird after reading the court summons for Mr Slipper, released on Tuesday by the ACT Magistrates Court.
The summons document alleges that on three occasions in 2010, Mr Slipper took a hire car to visit wineries that include the top-rated Clonakilla winery, well known for its $85 Shiraz Viognier. These trips and others described in the document cost $1194.
On one adventure in January 2010, Mr Slipper allegedly travelled from Parliament House to six wineries. He also allegedly travelled to wineries using government Cabcharges again in April and June 2010.
The documents suggest Mr Slipper holds a particular fondness for Poachers Pantry, which is famous in Canberra for its gourmet smoked meats. He visited the restaurant on all three journeys.
''Mr Slipper knew that he was not entitled to use the Cabcharge card to pay for the hire car fare, but he did so,'' the description of offences says.
Illustration: Matt Golding.
The rules state that MPs can travel at government expense only if they are undertaking ''parliamentary, electorate or official business''.
If a federal MP is found guilty of a criminal offence that carries a jail term of a year or more, they are disqualified from Parliament. Mr Slipper could face up to five years' imprisonment but lawyers say this is unlikely.
But a shorter sentence is a ''real possibility'', according to Canberra criminal lawyer Ben Aulich, who also read the allegations against Mr Slipper.
''These sorts of matters are very serious,'' said Mr Aulich, who owns a criminal law firm in Canberra. ''Anything to do with a fraud on the Commonwealth involving a breach of a position of trust in a systematic way, the first port of call is a jail term.''
When public figures are convicted of fraud the judge typically issues a severe punishment to deter others.
The former Speaker, who resigned from the position last October, allegedly filled in false information about trip locations and fares.
The Finance Department told Mr Slipper on three separate occasions between 2006 and 2007 that he should use electronic and not manual Cabcharge vouchers as they were more accountable and secure, the document alleges.
Mr Slipper allegedly continued to use Cabcharge vouchers because he wanted to avoid being investigated.
On Monday Mr Slipper was summonsed to face the ACT Magistrates Court on February 15 for ''three offences of dishonestly causing a risk of a loss to the Commonwealth''.
Mr Slipper stood aside as Speaker last April after he was accused by former staffer James Ashby of misusing taxi dockets, as well as separate claims that he had sexually harassed Mr Ashby. Mr Slipper called the travel claims a ''complete fabrication.''
Last month, the Federal Court dismissed Mr Ashby's sexual harassment claim.
Fairfax Media has attempted to contact Mr Slipper without success.
