<p> Australia's Parliamentary Speaker Peter Slipper has stepped aside following allegations of sexual harassment and fraud against him.<br /><br /></p>.<p>62-years-old Slipper, who returned to Australia today, issued a statement emphatically denying the allegations that he harassed one of his advisers, James Ashby, and that he misused cabcharges.<br /><br />"The allegations include both a claim of criminal behaviour and a claim under civil law," Slipper said, referring to the allegations of fraud and harassment, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.<br /><br />Slipper has been accused by 33-year-old Ashby of making unwelcome advances towards him and sending him sexually explicit text messages, the paper said.<br /><br />Ashby has launched legal action in the Federal Court against Slipper.<br />"As such, I believe it is appropriate for me to stand aside as Speaker while this criminal allegation is resolved. Once it is clear they are untrue I shall return to the Speakership," he said.<br /><br />Slipper said the allegations were incorrect and once they were shown to be so he would return to the speakership.<br /><br />In the meantime Labor MP and Deputy Speaker Anna Burke will act as Speaker.<br />The opposition has demanded Slipper's resignation.<br /><br />Opposition leader Tony Abbott said Prime Minister Julia Gillard had to restore the integrity of the parliament following allegations of the "gravest kind" made against Slipper.<br />Treasurer Wayne Swan said Slipper was entitled to the presumption of innocence while the matters were before the court, he said.<br /><br />"These are allegations that are in legal proceedings," he said.<br />The paper said that Prime Minister cannot directly dismiss Slipper from the Speakership but he could lose his position by a vote in the House of Representatives.</p>
<p> Australia's Parliamentary Speaker Peter Slipper has stepped aside following allegations of sexual harassment and fraud against him.<br /><br /></p>.<p>62-years-old Slipper, who returned to Australia today, issued a statement emphatically denying the allegations that he harassed one of his advisers, James Ashby, and that he misused cabcharges.<br /><br />"The allegations include both a claim of criminal behaviour and a claim under civil law," Slipper said, referring to the allegations of fraud and harassment, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.<br /><br />Slipper has been accused by 33-year-old Ashby of making unwelcome advances towards him and sending him sexually explicit text messages, the paper said.<br /><br />Ashby has launched legal action in the Federal Court against Slipper.<br />"As such, I believe it is appropriate for me to stand aside as Speaker while this criminal allegation is resolved. Once it is clear they are untrue I shall return to the Speakership," he said.<br /><br />Slipper said the allegations were incorrect and once they were shown to be so he would return to the speakership.<br /><br />In the meantime Labor MP and Deputy Speaker Anna Burke will act as Speaker.<br />The opposition has demanded Slipper's resignation.<br /><br />Opposition leader Tony Abbott said Prime Minister Julia Gillard had to restore the integrity of the parliament following allegations of the "gravest kind" made against Slipper.<br />Treasurer Wayne Swan said Slipper was entitled to the presumption of innocence while the matters were before the court, he said.<br /><br />"These are allegations that are in legal proceedings," he said.<br />The paper said that Prime Minister cannot directly dismiss Slipper from the Speakership but he could lose his position by a vote in the House of Representatives.</p>