Peter Slipper has stood down as Speaker while the expenses rort claims are investigated. Picture: Supplied Source: The Daily Telegraph An Anglican archbishop has advised Peter Slipper to stand aside as the church's senior legal officer.
Driver accuses Slipper of doctoring dockets Claims Speaker would try hide large fares Slipper says charges were "completed correctly"SPEAKER Peter Slipper is engulfed in another scandal amid claims he adjusted taxi vouchers to conceal lavish travel costs, in a possible breach of Commonwealth law.
An Anglican archbishop has advised Peter Slipper to stand aside as the church's senior legal officer.Canberra limousine driver Berris Crossin told The Daily Telegraph Mr Slipper had an arrangement with her to adjust his travel details to minimise suspicions over the size of his taxi fares.Ms Crossin - a driver with Canberra Hire Cars - confirmed Mr Slipper would insist on filling out four or five Cabcharge dockets to cover a single trip because "it didn't look as bad as one big fare".
Ms Crossin confirmed Mr Slipper would sign multiple dockets which would be processed manually. This would allow the MP to disguise the size of his travel bill.
"Instead of having one big hit, he will do it over half a dozen," Ms Crossin said.
The limousine driver said she would pick up Mr Slipper from his Canberra home and take him to a variety of venues including Parliament, to dinner, "or he went shopping".
His travel costs would be tallied up and then paid for using multiple dockets.
Last night, Mr Slipper said all Cabcharges were "completed correctly and were for travel within entitlement".
He said it was "appropriate that the passenger would complete the Cabcharge forms, making sure they are correct, then sign the Cabcharge forms and give to the driver".
Department of Finance records show Canberra Hire Cars has profited handsomely from Mr Slipper.
Taxpayers paid $575 for six trips on April 19, 2010 - with one fare costing $75.68 and described by Mr Slipper as "city to city".
Documents obtained under freedom of information laws show a long list of taxi and limousine travel undertaken by Mr Slipper since 2010.
Multiple fares of about $300 each way have been notched up by the Speaker for travel between Brisbane airport and his home at Buderim on the Sunshine Coast - sometimes more than once a day.
Limousine driver Antwan Kaikaty has driven the Queensland MP around Sydney for 19 years, including in recent months in a luxurious $230,000 black Audi A8.
Mr Kaikaty confirmed Mr Slipper would supply multiple Cabcharges to pay for Sydney travel - including for three trips in January and February.
Mr Kaikaty said Mr Slipper had been "my client" for a number of years and would provide him with a "few vouchers" at the end of travel.
As Mr Slipper fights to clear his name, the Gillard government is facing a backlash from MPs over suggestions the Speaker could be returned to his role as early as the budget on May 8.
Independent MP Andrew Wilkie last night said Mr Slipper should remain in the political sin bin until his sexual harassment court case with former staffer James Ashby was finalised.
"I am of the strong view that Peter Slipper should not resume the Speaker's chair until all of the allegations against him are dealt with, including the allegation of sexual harassment," he said.
A growing number of Labor MPs privately agree with this view, arguing it would be embarrassing for Mr Slipper to preside over parliament with such serious allegations hanging over him.
Mr Ashby, a 33-year-old adviser to Mr Slipper, is suing the Commonwealth and claims he was sexually harassed by Mr Slipper.
He also plans to provide a statement to the Australian Federal Police about his claims that he saw Cabcharge dockets being misused.The fresh claims about Mr Slipper's Cabcharge use involve a possible breach of the Commonwealth Crimes Act.
Canberra Hire Cars, which is owned by the Aerial Capital Group, said it was willing to co-operate with the Federal Police, including providing detailed GPS records that track of each individual trip its limousines make.
Group managing director Mark Bramston said: "We have information on any trip and if the police request the information, we are required to give it to them".
The Commonwealth Criminal Code Act makes a crime of supplying information that is "false and misleading" or "omits any matter or thing without which the information is misleading".
The offence carries a potential jail term of 12 months.
