Peter Slipper now honorary consul for Brazil in Tasmania

Former Speaker Peter Slipper might now be acting on behalf of Brazil after being appointed consul for the country in Tasmania.

Former Speaker Peter Slipper. Picture: Gary Ramage

He may have once tamed Australia’s most senior politicians but former Speaker Peter Slipper might now be acting on behalf of Brazil after being appointed consul for the country in Tasmania.

In a bizarre career development for the controversial former politician, who works as a barrister in the state, his appointment to the honorary role was approved by the Australian government after being initiated by Brazil.

Mr Slipper said he was ­“extremely pleased” with the ­appointment and he would work to “further the excellent ­relations already existing ­between Brazil and Australia”.

“I am very honoured that the Government of the Federative Republic of Brazil with the ­approval of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia has appointed me to the diplomatic post of Honorary Consul for Brazil in Tasmania, Australia,” Mr Slipper tweeted yesterday.

Accompanying the tweet was a screenshot of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website page for the consulate of ­Brazil, which lists Mr Slipper as honorary consul, together with dual Brazilian-Australian citizen professor Paulo de Souza as his honorary vice-consul.

According to a report in the Herald Sun, Mr Slipper was ­offered the appointment as a ­result of relationships he had made with Brazilian officials during his time as Speaker.

“When I was Speaker, I always made a point of attending national days when I could (and) it ­engendered a good relationship with countries because it indicated ambassadors and embassies were able to attract people who held senior positions,” he said.

While DFAT lists Mr Slipper as the honorary consul for Brazil, it is unclear whether the position includes a salary or stipend. A DFAT spokesman told The Australian it was not involved with any financial arrangements between foreign countries and any honorary positions they appoint.

The Brazilian embassy did not comment to The Australian.

Mr Slipper’s political career was marred by a string of controversies, including a successfully appealed conviction for the illegal misuse of travel entitlements to visit wineries, and an ­accusation of harassing his staffer James Ashby.