At the time of the lunch in July 2004, Phillips was facing charges of torture and grievous bodily harm. Phillips subsequently pled guilty in April 2006 and is currently serving a five-year sentence.
Phillips’ adult empire included Internet Billing Services and porn site PinkBits.com. Phillips was part of a close-knit trio of wealthy Australian adult webmasters including Dean Shannon and Greg Lasrado, who bailed Phillips out of jail and is now serving time himself for heroin possession.
Phillips and Prime Minister Howard were among the luncheon’s 20 invited guests at the Sirromet Winery at Mount Cotton. Phillips received a late invitation to the affair from a girlfriend, escaping inclusion on the guest list, and thus, a security check.
Guests paid $2,000 for the lunch with Howard and other powerful Queensland politicians.
“I have no knowledge of inviting him,” Liberal Party federal member Andrew Laming said. “Certainly he was not invited to the lunch by me.”
The Federal Opposition has requested that Howard explain why he attended the lunch with such a “shady character,” but Federal Health Minister Tony Abbott says the whole situation is overblown and has been unfairly portrayed.
“I’ve just had breakfast with 60 drug dealers because I’ve just come from a gathering of 60 pharmacists,” Abbott said. “I think that particular story this morning was right over the top. Of course it was unfortunate that this guy was at the Howard lunch, but it doesn’t mean that the Prime Minister willingly associates with dodgy characters."