AN Australian Federal Police investigation is one of the options in the Chief Minister Katy Gallagher’s call for a  “forensic investigation” into the Canberra Liberals timesheet affair,  that has Labor insiders tipping will lead to the downfall of the Opposition Leader Zed Seselja.

In the early heat of the election year, the Chief Minister has gone in swinging to what the Speaker has earlier today described to “CityNews” as serious but a “HR” issue.

The overdue paperwork dates back to 2009 and has attracted a trail of email letters from the Speaker’s office to the Opposition Leader imploring him to have the timesheets completed, by what are understood to be three senior Liberal staffers.

Gallagher is this evening meeting with the Speaker to push her demands for a “forensic investigation” that could take the form of a police investigation or a probe by the auditor general.

The Chief Minister has accused Seselja of  “a systematic and arrogant refusal to comply with the law”.

Gallagher told media at lunchtime that some of the options for investigation could involve the Auditor-General or the Australian Federal Police.

The controversy stems from documents made public through Freedom of Information that reveal Canberra Liberals staff had neglected to complete the relevant paperwork to declare leave and time-in-lieu. The documents also revealed some of the staff’s leave time included “electioneering” during the 2010 Federal election campaign.

However, Rattenbury downplayed the suggestion of an auditor general investigation saying he “didn’t think that would be appropriate”.