Follow on Twitter
Subscribe by RSS
The James Ashby Conspiracy
Independent Australia – through managing editor David Donovan, Vince O’Grady,Ross Jones and many others – has spent hundreds of hours of investigating and researching the James Ashby / Peter Slipper scandal — a covert political conspiracy by the Coalition to bring down the Parliamentary Speaker, Peter Slipper, and through him the Federal Government of Australia.
This dedicated Ashbygate page will be updated as new information comes to light and more articles are published.
The page is arranged in reverse chronological order — meaning the oldest stories will be found at the bottom of the page.
To get the full story, scroll to the bottom of the page and read upwards.
STOP PRESS: Want to help investigate Ashbygate. Pledge your support to the Ashbygate Trust.
[Read the full Federal Court judgement of Justice Steven Rares.]
Ashbygate: A Conspiracy to bring down a Government
NEW!! (19/6/13) The Mal Brough trough and the James Ashby money tree
It doesn’t matter how serious the allegations are against Mal Brough, somehow he seems to be able to shrug them off and walk away smiling. Managing editor David Donovan reports.
(7/6/13) Ashbygate vultures
As we impatiently await the Ashby-Harmer leave to appeal verdict ‒ and the costs continue to escalate ‒ the vultures circle lower around Peter Slipper. Ross Jones reports.
(13/5/13) The Ashbygate hedge and Bob’s DPP
On Friday in Senate Committee hearings, the DPP were grilled about why they’re pursuing Peter Slipper for just $900, when other MPs are excused for much, much, more. Ross Jones reports.
(13/5/13) How Clive Palmer sold Peter Slipper a PUP
In the last day or so, Clive Palmer’s party signed up Peter Slipper, kicked him out and changed its name to PUP. WTF is going on? Ross Jones tells the tale.
(3/5/13) Ashbygate leave to appeal: Day 2
Today was day two of the latest James Ashby legal jamboree in the Federal Court in Sydney. As ever, Ross Jones was IA’s eyes in the gallery.
(2/5/13) Ashbygate leave to appeal: Day 1
Ross Jones reports from the first day of the Ashby/Harmer leave to appeal case against Rares’ Slipper verdict, held in the Federal Court in Sydney.
Click on the image to catch up on IA’s full Ashbygate investigation.
(16/4/13) Is that a fire?
The AFP can certainly move when they want to, says Ross Jones — but in the case of Mal Brough and Ashbygate, it seems they just don’t want to.
(4/4/13) Updating the Ashbygate Trust
In an astonishing show of support, IA’s Ashbygate Trust initiative is over ¼ of the way towards its goal already. Idea originator Geezlouise comments.
(3/4/13) Establishing the Ashbygate Trust
In a call to arms, Geezlouise advocates the establishment of a trust, administered by IA, to raise money, investigate and prosecute any wrongdoers in the Ashbygate affair.
(2/4/13) Ashbygate loose ends
The LNP want to form Government as soon as possible, but perhaps they should answer some questions about the Ashbygate conspiracy first, says Vince O’Grady.
(26/3/13) Graham Perrett pushes indolent AFP over Ashbygate
Honest politician Graham Perrett is not letting the Federal Police fob off the Ashbygate conspiracy, writing them a new letter. Ross Jones reports.
(11/3/13) Let them drive Comcars
Over the crucial six days of the Slipper fiasco – from Saturday 16 April 2012 to Friday 22 April 2012 – Tony Abbott racked up $2,706 in Comcar bills, reports Ross Jones.
(4/3/13) Ashbygate in depth: At the end of Mal Brough’s dry gully
Vince O’Grady wraps up his in-depth series on the lies and dissembling of Mal Brough over Ashbygate, directing more unanswered questions to the evasive candidate.
(3/3/13) Ashbygate in depth: Further along Mal Brough’s dry gully
In a recent interview, Mal Brough described his total involvement with James Ashby as five “frivolous” texts; Vince O’Grady‘s demolishes this arrant fiction through a detailed timeline of Brough’s extensive involvement with, not only Ashby, but many other Ashbygate co-conspirators.
Mal Brough moves in 2 doors down from Peter Slipper, January 2013.
(2/3/13) Ashbygate in depth: Mal Brough’s dry gully
In the first part of a three part series, Vince O’Grady shows in forensic detail just how many times Mal Brough has changed his story, or outright lied, about his conspiracy with James Ashby to bring down Peter Slipper.
(28/2/13) IA EXCLUSIVE: Slipper and Perrett discuss the AFP’s Brough probe suspension
Peter Slipper and Graham Perrett discuss with Ross Jones today’s inaccurate shambles of a letter from the AFP, where it announced its decision to suspend any investigation of Mal Brough over Ashbygate.
(24/2/13) The Perrett complaint
MP Graham Perrett complained in December about the Coalition trying to bring down the Government, but the Federal Police say — all in good time. Ross Jones comments.
(22/2/13) Ashbygate arousal 2: MP sex scandal
James Ashby alleged, without any proof, that in 2003 Peter Slipper had been videoed being intimate with a young male staffer. Ross Jones considers other cases of MPs caught on tape.
(18/2/13) Queensland police investigation into Mal Brough
Update from Vince O’Grady about the letter sent to the Queensland Police asking for Mal Brough to be investigated over alleged crimes relating to Ashbygate.
(15/2/13) Ashbygate and the art of arousal
James Ashby claimed that, in 2003, the Commonwealth under PM John Howard heard allegations then LNP MP Peter Slipper had sexually harassed a male staffer — so why did the LNP cover it up, asks Ross Jones.
(14/2/13) Peter Slipper on Australian media, democracy and IA
In an speech to Federal Parliament, Peter Slipper lamented Australia’s media landscape — and made special mention of IA and its writers.
(8/2/13) The trials and tribulations of James Ashby
Ross Jones was at court for the next round of the Slipper vs Ashby case — and he says we should spare a thought for James.
(8/2/13) The sad story of Steve ‘scoop’ Lewis
Steve Lewis is a Murdoch journalist who has never seen a Liberal Party dirt file he didn’t like. Managing editor David Donovan paints a picture of a sad and desperate individual.
(25/1/13) Asking the Brough questions
Mal Brough may be able to evade journalist’s questions on a train, or by not answering his phone, but he may have more trouble with the Queensland Police. Vince O’Grady reports.
(22/1/13) Response from SC Daily about Mal Brough’s Ashbygate
Margo Kingston has received a reply from the Sunshine Coast Daily to Sunday’s open letter, asking them to ask Mal Brough some questions about Ashbygate.
(20/1/13) Open letter to SC Daily: time to ask Brough some real questions about Ashbygate
The Sunshine Coast Daily are taking a train trip with Mal Brough. In an open letter, Margo Kingston lays out the questions they should be asking him about Ashbygate.
(18/1/13) The Ashbygate conspiracy — of silence
The media spent eight months vilifying Peter Slipper over Ashby, but when the Federal Court ruled it was a political set-up — suddenly they weren’t interested. Margo Kingston comments on the scandal behind the conspiracy.
(12/1/13) Ashbygate questions to answer — but a deafening silence
The mainstream media and the Coalition have many questions to answer about the James Ashby conspiracy, says Vince O’Grady, who sets them out in detail.
(11/1/13) If Slipper is guilty — then what about Abbott?
If Peter Slipper does end up in gaol for defrauding the Commonwealth, the next signings on Tony Abbott’s Battlelines book tour may be from an adjoining cell, writes Dr Benjamin Thomas Jones.
(10/1/13) EXCLUSIVE: How Finance defied protocol to crucify Slipper
Under their protocols, the Finance Department should have allowed Slipper to repay the modest $900 he owed them — but instead decided to crucify him. Margo Kingston reports.
(8/1/13) The Slipper Crossing, by Gee
(8/1/13) The pillorying of Peter Slipper
The pillorying and persecution of Peter Slipper has now descended to the AFP charging him with an obscure law about crossing state borders in taxis — something no-one knew about, least of all him. Bob Ellis comments on what has now become, officially, a farce.
(2/1/13) Peter Slipper did NOT sexually harass James Ashby
Don’t be misled, Justice Rares made it very clear in his judgement that Peter Slipper did not sexually harass James Ashby. Margo Kingston corrects the record.
(26/12/12) The rise of media bias — or the loss of subtlety
While editors from the past would always cover a good story, says Trade Minister Craig Emerson, if today’s editors don’t like its politics, they will happily ignore or bury it.
(23/12/12) Tony Abbott’s bag of mixed nuts
IT expert Kieran Cummings reveals the full picture regarding the Tony Abbott timestamp issue.
(22/12/12) The tragedy of Ashby and Slipper: Act Five
The cast of Ashbygate make their final appearances, along with a surprising new guest star, as Vince O’Grady concludes his epic account of Australia’s Watergate.
(17/12/12) The Tony Abbott prophecy
Days after Peter Slipper defected Tony Abbott said “let’s wait and see who Peter Slipper ends up ultimately damaging”. What did he know
(16/12/12) Ashbygate and the Born to Rule Brigade
The James Ashby conspiracy against Peter Slipper implicates many senior Liberal Party figures, including Tony Abbott. Denise Allen and managing editor David Donovan report.
(15/12/12) Overlooking Australia’s Watergate
Based on Ashbygate, if Watergate happened in Australia, Nixon would need to confess before our old media would report the scandal. Victoria Rollison comments.
(14/12/12) The sinister conspiracies against Slipper and Thomson
It is time to join some dots about the potentially deadly conspiracies against Peter Slipper and Craig Thomson, writes Bob Ellis.
(12/12/12) Truthtelling IA vindicated by Peter Slipper victory
Managing editor David Donovan and in-house sleuth Vince O’Grady reflect on the implications of today’s momentous judgement by Justice Rares in the Ashby versus Slipper case.
(13/12/12) The tragedy of Ashby and Slipper: Act Four
In the wake of Justice Rares damning judgement against James Ashby and his co-conspirators, Vince O’Grady provides more stunning revelations.
(9/12/12) The tragedy of Ashby and Slipper: Act Three
Vince O’Grady continues his groundbreaking series which, for the first time, shows what really happened in Ashbygate — another IA investigation.
(21/11/12) The tragedy of Ashby and Slipper: Act Two
Vince O’Grady continues his groundbreaking series which, for the first time, lays out a coherent Ashbygate narrative, while revealing vital new information.
(15/11/12) The tragedy of Ashby and Slipper: Act One
After an unprecedented amount of research, Vince O’Grady starts a new series mapping out what really happened in Ashbygate.
(2/11/12) The alleged Peter Slipper cover-up
The Liberal Party and their media allies are spinning out of control, alleging a Government cover-up over Peter Slipper. In a forensic analysis of the case, Vince O’Grady shows that, if anything, the reverse is true.
(11/10/12) How Abbott stuffed up Musselgate
The Opposition got their political strategy diabolically wrong on Tuesday, says Bob Ellis, and it will show up in the next honest poll.
(10/10/12) Ashbygate 2: Get Slipper
The Coalition have finally gotten their man, with Peter Slipper being forced from the Speaker’s chair. Managing editor David Donovan outlines the alleged role of the LNP in his demise.
(23/8/12) Will the ABC look after Mal Brough again?
Mal Brough has entered the political fray again amidst political controversy over his alleged involvement in Ashbygate. In 2006, he was allegedly involved in another brazen political set-up — then with the full assistance of the ABC. Andrew Kos reports.
(17/8/12) Ashbygate 1: How Ashby met Slipper
Whether Parliamentary Speaker Peter Slipper sexually harassed James Ashby is something for the courts to decide, but the case against him appears weak and there is a trove of evidence that suggests a conspiracy. Managing editor David Donovan reports.
(29/7/12) Tony Abbott’s Slippery Brough fingerprints
The LNP’s dirty tricks campaigns against Peter Slipper and Craig Thomson have Tony Abbott’s fingerprints all over them, says Bob Ellis.
(8/5/12) On the slippery slope with Slippery Pete
James Ashby’s allegations against Peter Slipper appeared to be the golden goose for the Coalition, but it has turned around to bite them, says Dr Benjamin Thomas Jones.
(24/4/12) The curious timing of the staffer against the Speaker
Benjamin Thomas Jones writes about the allegations against Parliamentary Speaker Peter Slipper: “With Julia Gillard’s minority government already beleaguered by scandals, leadership uncertainty and consistently poor polling, the timing of this latest allegation could not be more suspicious.”
(28/11/11) Callous Abbott hypocrisy installs Slipper as Speaker
By attacking Labor over the Jenkins/Slipper Speaker’s swap, Tony Abbott conveniently ignores his own dodgy dealings after the last election. Hypocrisy reigns, David Donovan comments.
Click to read Graham Perrett’s letter to the AFP requesting for them to investigate the James Ashby conspiracy.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Australia License
4 Comments
Thank you for listing all the relevant articles. I read most of them as they came out, but reviewing them reminded me of just how fishy it all sounded from the start. You have published a remarkable number of articles, which counterpoints the MSmedia’s silence on all these questions.
DD thank you for Independent Australia. You and Peter Wicks might have done the journalism which saves our democracy.
I am in two minds whether Abbott and the coalition will lose.
The propaganda campaign by the MSM continues unabated. Propaganda relies upon beleveability, murdoch newspapers believability is falling, but unfortunately the Australian remains at 60% believed. http://www.crikey.com.au/2013/01/22/our-trust-in-media-abc-still-leads-as-commercial-media-struggle/
Will propaganda beat reality?
[...] Ashbygate [...]
[...] described. But surely the facts won’t remain hidden for much longer? Not when so many excellent independent investigators are hot on the heels of the story. I can’t help but think of that Cricket game in 1981 when [...]
[...] described. But surely the facts won’t remain hidden for much longer? Not when so many excellent independent investigators are hot on the heels of the story. I can’t help but think of that Cricket game in 1981 when [...]
[...] the time Murdoch began his career, no Callan Park or Watergate style or Ashby-Brough investigations were allowed in his [...]
[...] Ashbygate [...]
[...] out IA’s full Ashbygate investigation by clicking on the image [...]
[...] out IA’s full Ashbygate investigation by clicking on the image [...]
[...] the crucial six days of the Slipper fiasco, however, from Saturday16 April 2012 to Friday 22 April 2012, Tone racked up $2,706 in Comcar [...]
[...] Ashbygate [...]
[...] at any rate, if Abbott himself had not raised the ‘character issue’ against his friend Slipper and his foe Thomson. The latter, he declared so ‘stained’ that his right to vote in the [...]
[...] country’s mainstream media, such that they are, but I admit to making a grievous error in the Ashbygate issue. It has been approximately 16 months since Peter Slipper was elected to the Speaker’s [...]
[...] an astonishing show of support, IA’s Ashbygate Trust initiative is over ¼ of the way towards its goal already. Idea originator Geezlouise [...]
[...] would have you believe this to be the case. The mainstream media don’t want you to know that the real rat is Ashby. And Abbott’s pre-selected friend Mal Brough. So while you’re complaining about the problems [...]
[...] would have you believe this to be the case. The mainstream media don’t want you to know that the real rat is Ashby. And Abbott’s pre-selected friend Mal Brough. So while you’re complaining about the problems [...]
I can’t afford to pay for this myself, but isn’t it time that one or more of our number sought a writ of Mandamus ii the High Court under section 75.5 of our constitution, that would compel the AFP to do its duty to investigate this conspiracy to bring down our government. A serious breach of the Crimes Act. Former High Court Judge, Mary Gaudron said this.”The genius of the Australian Constitution lies in a little subsection called section 75(5). Its terms are probably meaningless to those of you non-lawyers who are present here today. It gives the High Court original jurisdiction in which any person, citizen or non citizen seeks mandamus, prohibition or an injunction against an officer of the Commonwealth. As a result of that tiny little subsection, ministers of the federal government, federal public servants, their agents and others acting on their behalf may be compelled to perform their Constitutional and legal duty and may be restrained from acting in excess of their constitutional or legal power.” We should act on her advice!!!!!
CRIMES ACT 1914 – SECT 41
Conspiracy to bring false accusation
(1) A person commits an offence if:
(a) the person conspires with another person:
(i) to charge any person falsely with an offence; or
(ii) to cause any person to be falsely charged with an offence; and
(b) the offence referred to in paragraph (a) is an offence against a law of:
(i) the Commonwealth; or
(ii) a Territory.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.
(1A) Absolute liability applies to the paragraph (1)(b) element of the offence.
Note: For absolute liability, see section 6.2 of the Criminal Code .
(2) For a person to be guilty of an offence against subsection (1):
(a) the person must have entered into an agreement with one or more other persons; and
(b) the person and at least one other party to the agreement must have intended that a person be charged falsely with an offence pursuant to the agreement; and
(c) the person or at least one other party to the agreement must have committed an overt act pursuant to the agreement.
(3) A person may be found guilty of an offence against subsection (1) even if:
(a) charging a person falsely pursuant to the agreement is impossible; or
(b) the only other party to the agreement is a body corporate; or
(c) each other party to the agreement is a person who is not criminally responsible; or
(d) subject to subsection (4), all other parties to the agreement have been acquitted of the offence.
(4) A person cannot be found guilty of an offence against subsection (1) if:
(a) all other parties to the agreement have been acquitted of such an offence; and
(b) a finding of guilt would be inconsistent with their acquittal.
(5) A person cannot be found guilty of an offence against subsection (1) if, before the commission of an overt act pursuant to the agreement, the person:
(a) withdrew from the agreement; and
(b) took all reasonable steps to prevent the false charging.
(6) A court may dismiss a charge of an offence against subsection (1) if the court thinks that the interests of justice require the court to do so.
(7) Section 11.1 of the Criminal Code does not apply to an offence against subsection (1).
In view of last night’s 730 Report of whistleblower with serious allegations against AFP, I left some comments there.
http://www.independentaustralia.net/2013/politics/is-that-a-fire/
Catch up with it on ABC’s Iview if you can.
It seems as if at the very least the AFP ignored, possibly acted against local warnings and danger assessments on Christmas Island just before the riots, and lied or at the very least misled a Parliamentary enquiry when claim they had no forewarning.