THE man who has accused the Speaker, Peter Slipper, of sexual harassment and fraud was actively working against his boss' re-election as he continued to work in Mr Slipper's office.

The Saturday Age can reveal that James Hunter Ashby was actively promoting the preselection campaign of one of Mr Slipper's Liberal National Party political rivals in a series of YouTube videos while he was working as a media adviser to the Speaker.

James Ashby

The Saturday Age has also learnt that Mr Ashby held a secret meeting with another of the Speaker's political rivals and former Howard government minister, Mal Brough, just two weeks before his explosive claims against Mr Slipper were made public.

The subject of two videos compiled by Mr Ashby is a Sunshine Coast businesswoman, Peta Simpson, who intends - along with Mr Brough - to nominate for the seat of Fisher, now held by Mr Slipper.