Mal Brough asked Clive Palmer to help destroy Peter Slipper in James Ashby affair: claim BILLIONAIRE Clive Palmer has finally revealed details of a dinner at which LNP candidate Mal Brough allegedly outlined the plot to destroy former federal Speaker Peter Slipper. Mr Palmer claims he was asked directly to fund the sexual harassment case made against Mr Slipper by former staffer James Ashby. And he cleared Opposition Treasury spokesman Joe Hockey, who was accused by Mr Slipper of being involved in the alleged scheme. Mr Palmer, who heads Palmer's United Party, said in Easter last year Mr Brough, LNP candidate for the seat of Fisher, had a meal with him at Palmer's Coolum Resort. Mal Brough said to me it was important that we destroy Peter Slipper. Mr Palmer said he was asked over the meal to fund a sexual harassment claim that was eventually brought against Mr Slipper by Mr Ashby and dismissed by court as largely politically driven and an abuse of process. "I was directly asked by Mr Brough to fund, to put up the money," Mr Palmer said. Mr Palmer said he refused to fund what might have amounted to a $500,000 legal bill because he did not think it in his interests to do so. He also thought it wrong to attack Mr Slipper. Mr Palmer, running as a candidate in the Sunshine Coast seat of Fairfax, said Mr Brough was in "the final stages of his presentation" when Mr Hockey came past their table. But Mr Hockey did not participate in the discussion involving Mr Slipper. Mr Palmer said the entire episode made him uncomfortable and he wanted to clear it up. "Mr Slipper like any other member of the community is entitled to a fair hearing," he said.." Mr Brough was holding a media conference at 1pm to address the claims.