The scandal has none of the lordly sleaze of cocaine, prostitutes and orange bras, but Bronwyn Bishop’s extravagant misuse of travel expenses should be politically fatal nonetheless.
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DEPUTY Nationals Leader Barnaby Joyce believes Bronwyn Bishop should continue as Speaker and be allowed to fix up her “mistakes”.
Abbott has called for a system that “independently sets and monitors parliamentary entitlements” and one which “enables parliamentarians, their staff, and the public, to operate inside the rules with confidence”, according to a statement released today.
Mr Abbott announced a fundamental review of MPs entitlements.
News Corp reported on Sunday she spent more than $1000 on two chauffeur-driven vehicle trips the same day she used free tickets to attend the opening of Yes, Prime Minister at a Sydney theatre with two staffers.
Having recognised this, and presumably advised Bishop on the course she would reluctantly take, Abbott could not bring himself to criticise her conduct on Sunday, which made for an awkward and unconvincing appearance before the cameras.
“I have not taken this decision lightly, however it is because of my love and respect for the institution of Parliament and the Australian people that I have resigned as Speaker”, Mrs Bishop said in a statement.
“I look forward to continuing to serve the people of Mackellar as their local member, the job that has always been my first responsiblity despite other positions I have held within the Parliament”. In the past week, various government frontbenchers have stopped short of supporting Mrs Bishop, even though she finally apologised for the helicopter trip, repaid the money, and asked the Department of Finance to investigate her expense claims.
The news was revealed at a press conference this afternoon. She has since issued a grovelling apology.
‘This has obviously been a very hard day for Bronwyn Bishop, ‘ Mr Abbott said.
“What has become apparent, particularly over the last few days, is that the problem is not any particular individual; the problem is the entitlement system more generally”, he said.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said the Speaker’s resignation was “overdue” and the prime minister’s continued defence showed the Government was “unrepentant”.
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“Mr Abbott has blamed the system, but it was Mrs Bishop’s addiction to privilege that was the real culprit” he said. He said if you start “throwing rocks”, there won’t be a person left in the parliament because everybody will have an issue somewhere in the past.
