Former federal parliamentary speaker Peter Slipper has been ordered to complete 300 hours of community service after being sentenced for misusing his Cabcharge allowance to visit Canberra wineries in 2010.

He was also handed a two-year good behaviour bond and must pay back $954.

Slipper was found guilty of three dishonesty charges in July for misusing his Cabcharge allowance on three occasions in 2010 before he was appointed speaker.

Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker said a prison term was not suitable and had taken into account Slipper's good character and ongoing mental health issues.

She also took into account that Slipper had been the subject of intense public scrutiny since the claims surfaced.

"I do take into account the extent to which Mr Slipper has already suffered humiliation," she said.

"Prison is not the only option open to the court ... and indeed is not warranted in this case."

She told the court his offending was at the mid range and that a non-conviction order was not appropriate in this case.

Chief Magistrate Walker said Slipper "intentionally disguised the manner of the trips" which she said included some pre-planning but no great deal of premeditation.

"The public as a whole are the victims in relation to the fraud," Chief Magistrate Walker said.

Slipper could have been Australia's greatest speaker: ex-wife

Slipper's first wife Lyn Slipper spoke to reporters outside court after his sentence was handed down. ( ABC News )

Speaking outside the court, Slipper's first wife, Lyn Slipper, told reporters he was "an innocent man".

She said the court case had been a waste of taxpayers' money, and a tragedy for him personally and for his family.

Asked about her ex-husband's emotions during the court process, Ms Slipper said: "I don't think you get much lower than two suicide attempts."

Ms Slipper said she believed Australia had also suffered a major loss.

"His appointment as speaker would have seen, or did see, the first appointment of an independent speaker in this country. It is something this country needs," she said.

"Had he not been standing in Tony Abbott's way, I believe he had the capacity to go down in history as the greatest speaker this country has ever seen."

Three trips to visit Canberra, NSW wineries cost $954

During Slipper's trial, the court heard the total bill for the three trips to wineries in Canberra and surrounding NSW was $954.

On the first occasion in January 2010, Slipper visited up to six premises including the prestigious Poachers Pantry and Clonakilla wineries.

A hire car driver gave evidence that he drove Slipper and another man to several wineries and at the end, Slipper asked him if they could split the payment up into four amounts "because it would make processing easier".

The court also heard evidence from a second hire car driver who drove Slipper to wineries on two other occasions.

In July, Chief Magistrate Walker found Slipper falsely recorded the travel he took on those three days and that he gave a disingenuous description of the trips.

The maximum penalty the court could impose was 12 months' imprisonment or a fine of $6,600, or both, for each offence.

Slipper has already lodged an appeal against the guilty verdict.