Nicola Roxon (Gellibrand, Australian Labor Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Clearly, if that was the intention, it did not work. The one reason you can be sure that it was not the intention is that it did not work. The Commonwealth, as people in this chamber seem to have forgotten, was a respondent in an action brought by Mr Ashby. Mr Slipper was also a respondent in an action brought by Mr Ashby. The Commonwealth settled that matter with Mr Ashby. Mr Slipper has not settled his matter with Mr Ashby; it is currently before the Federal Court, and I do not think it is appropriate for us to speculate about what might happen in that matter that is still ongoing.

See this speech in context