Australian speaker stands defiant on spending

 

Bronwyn Bishop's helicopter trip and two other chartered plane flights are being probed by the Department of Finance.

She won't say sorry, won't resign and says she won't be tarred with the same brush as former disgraced Speaker Peter Slipper.
Australian Speaker Bronwyn Bishop remains defiant as her taxpayer-funded travel expenses come under scrutiny after it was revealed she spent A$5000 ($5654) on a helicopter ride from Melbourne to Geelong to attend a Liberal Party fundraiser.
Quizzed by reporters after an Anzac Centenary event in Sydney yesterday, Bishop said she was under no particular pressure to resign.
Having repaid the money, she said she felt no compulsion to say sorry.
She was annoyed when asked to explain the difference between her case and that of Slipper, who, while he was an independent MP, stood aside as Speaker during the Gillard Government when A$900 of cab charges were investigated.
"Totally a different matter altogether and you know it," she said.

Bishop's helicopter trip and two other chartered plane flights are being probed by the Department of Finance. Fairfax media also reported she spent A$1000 per day on limousines in an A$88,000 trip to Europe.
"Well, international travel is expensive," she said.
Treasurer Joe Hockey, the first minister to suggest the helicopter ride "failed the sniff test", said the Speaker now recognises she made an error of judgement, repaid the money and is co-operating with the Department of Finance. "This has sucked up too much oxygen for the nation over the last few days. We need to get on with the issues that matter to people," he told the Ten Network.
Government frontbencher Greg Hunt agreed with the Speaker that her refund was as good as an apology but conceded he would, in that situation, apologise for any error he made.
Former Liberal leader Dr John Hewson was less generous, saying he was staggered that these sorts of issues are not nipped in the bud.
Hewson, who was leader when Bishop was a senator two decades ago, said she set a pretty tough standard in those days for accountability and transparency, but is "ducking and weaving" now the same standards are being applied to her.
"It's amazing how history bites you in the bum," he told Sky News.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has so far stood by his Speaker.