Foreign Minister Bob Carr has brushed aside a formal complaint against him from the man who launched a sexual harassment case against Speaker Peter Slipper.

James Ashby's lawyers lodged a formal complaint of victimisation yesterday with the Human Rights Commission over remarks made by Senator Carr and Queensland Senator Barnaby Joyce.

The complaint cites a tweet from Senator Carr on May 5 which said: "This Ashby seems more rehearsed than a kabuki actor."

Kabuki is a Japanese form of theatre featuring a highly stylised performance style.

The following day, Senator Joyce told the media: "If you are going to play marriage guidance counsellor, you've got to hear both sides of the story".

He went on to describe Mr Ashby as "only slightly less dodgy than Slipper".

Mr Ashby's lawyers have accused Senator Carr and Senator Joyce of using their high office to demean their client, possibly for political ends.

But Senator Carr says the seriousness of the complaint lodged by Mr Ashby against Mr Slipper means the issue should not have become a "political football", citing Mr Ashby's contact with several Coalition members before he made the complaint.

He says he does not regret his comments over Mr Ashby's action, which he says seem to have been filtered "well and truly" through the political process.

"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," he told 7.30.

"Let me say again, sexual harassment is serious.

"Precisely because of that, if there is a complaint, take it to the authorities - don't have a meeting with your employer's political opponent on three occasions.

"In Australia and around the world there are a lot more serious cases of infringement of human rights than this."

'Repeated public attacks'

Michael Harmer, who is representing Mr Ashby, says public attacks on people who complain of sexual harassment will discourage other people from coming forward.

He says Senator Carr's tweet was republished in full in News Limited's Sunday newspapers, exposing the comment to about 5 million readers.

"In direct response to our client making such allegations (against Mr Slipper), our client has been subject to repeated public attacks on his reputation, integrity and credibility by senior politicians," he said.

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Mr Harmer says the Foreign Minister was also given the opportunity on ABC TV's Lateline program to withdraw his remarks, but declined.

Last month, Mr Ashby launched a civil claim under the Fair Work Act against the Commonwealth and Mr Slipper, in which he alleges he was continually harassed from the start of his employment for Peter Slipper.

The Federal Court will have its first hearing on the matter today.

Mr Ashby says it is clear the Speaker only hired him to pursue a sexual relationship.

Mr Slipper also faces separate criminal allegations that he misused government Cabcharge vouchers.

He has stepped aside as Speaker of the Federal Parliament to defend himself, and denies any wrongdoing.

'List of problems'

The Commonwealth Government Solicitor has raised a lengthy list of problems with Mr Ashby's claims against Mr Slipper.

In a statement, the Commonwealth Solicitor says Mr Ashby took no steps to try and resolve the issues, and did not warn anyone from the Commonwealth that he intended to start proceedings for damages.

The statement notes Mr Ashby's application was widely reported on websites within hours of it being lodged.

It also points out Mr Ashby has dropped some of the allegations in the original application.

The Commonwealth rejects Mr Ashby's argument that he took no reasonable steps to resolve the issue because the matter was urgent and involves victimisation.

It sets out a list of alternative ways Mr Ashby could have handled his complaint, for example by complaining to the Department of Finance.

But a spokesman for Mr Ashby says he did not tell the Commonwealth about Mr Slipper's behaviour because he feared reprisal from Mr Slipper and the Federal Government.

He says taking the matter into the public sphere was Mr Ashby's best form of protection against reprisal.