Australia's federal court has heard that sexual harassment claims against the parliamentary speaker, Peter Slipper, are not being thrown around lightly.
In the first day of a hearing in Sydney, lawyers for the complainant James Ashby have insisted Mr Slipper has a lot to explain, the ABC reports.
But Mr Slipper says the allegations have deeply disturbed him and may be an abuse of the legal process.
Justice Stephen Rares started hearing the civil case that Mr Ashby, a political adviser, lodged against Mr Slipper and the Commonwealth.
Mr Ashby alleges Mr Slipper only hired him in order to pursue a sexual relationship.
Mr Ashby's lawyer, Michael Lee SC, has told the court the case should be heard before a jury because it has community and social values.
He says witnesses will include doctors.
Mr Lee says it is not a matter of allegations being thrown around lightly like the components of a Jackson Pollock painting.
But Josh Bornstein, acting for Mr Slipper, says his client has been ambushed and his character assassinated.
Mr Bornstein told the court documents were released to the media before they were even served on Mr Slipper or his legal team.
He said the way the case has been handled could be an abuse of the legal process.
At today's directions hearing, Justice Rares told the parties involved it was hard to believe the case was going to take up five days of the court's time.
Earlier, the Commonwealth Government Solicitor challenged Mr Ashby's initial claim, saying he did not take genuine steps to resolve the dispute and asking why he did not raise the issue before taking legal action.
A spokesman for Mr Ashby quickly responded with a media statement, saying his client had feared reprisals from the Federal Government.
