"Mr Carr and Senator Joyce should leave it to the court to pass judgment on our client's claims against Mr Slipper and the Commonwealth. Mr Carr and Senator Joyce should not use their high office to demean our client for their political ends or otherwise."

Mr Harmer said that, since Mr Ashby launched legal proceedings against Mr Slipper and the Commonwealth, "our client has been subject to repeated public attacks on his reputation, integrity and credibility by senior politicians".

"Our client considers that he has a number of other causes of action in respect of the conduct of Mr Carr and Senator Joyce. Our client reserves all of his rights in relation to those causes of action while progressing this complaint to the Commission."

This evening, Senator Carr - who is in Japan - said that he did not regret his remarks.



The Foreign Minister told the ABC's 7.30 that sexual harassment was "serious" and it should not become a "political football".



"I think it would have been far better for all concerned if it had been presented cleanly to the proper authorities without all the meetings that have taken place in the halls of Parliament, " Mr Carr said, referring to contact between Coalition frontbencher Christopher Pyne and Mr Ashby, prior to the political staffer lodging sexual harassment claims against Mr Slipper.



"Lets keep it clean and lodge a complaint and see that it is heard in the proper way," he said.



Senator Carr also appeared to dismiss Mr Ashby's complaint to HREOC.



"I think in Australia and around the world there are a lot more serious cases of infringement of human rights than this," he said.

Senator Joyce said this afternoon that if Mr Ashby wanted to take him to HREOC that was his right.



‘‘If he wants to take me to the Human Rights Commission he can do what he likes."



Senator Joyce also said that he came from a part of Queensland - the town of St George - were people were "robust".



The Queensland Senator said he was not on anyone's side in the matter between Mr Ashby and Mr Slipper.



‘‘At the outset of this issue I was neither on the side of Mr Ashby or Mr Slipper and that’s where I want to stay,’’ Senator Joyce said.



‘‘If there is a dispute between the two, they can take it to court and work it out," he said.



"I didn’t think I impugned his [Mr Ashby’s] character.’’

Louise Hall reports: This afternoon Mr Ashby filed further documents with the Federal Court related to his claim for sexual discrimination and breach of contract against Mr Slipper and the Commonwealth.

Mr Ashby claims Mr Slipper sexually harassed him in contravention of the anti-discrimination provisions of the Fair Work Act 2009.