Peter Slipper has taken the hint offered by Federal Court Justice Steven Rares in his blistering assessment of the sexual harassment lawsuit brought against the former parliamentary speaker, and come out gunning for the team that concocted it. Mr Slipper indicated on Wednesday he was aiming for punitive action against his ex-staffer, James Ashby, and Mr Ashby's solicitors, Harmers Workplace Lawyers, when he filed an application in the Federal Court for costs against each party to be awarded on an indemnity basis. The application for costs to be awarded against a solicitor acting in the case is an extraordinary step, but some lawyers read Justice Rares's judgment last week as a coded suggestion to Mr Slipper as to avenues available to him.