Sunday 2 August 2015
© AAP Image/Mick Tsikas Bronwyn Bishop has been under intense pressure to quit as Speaker after a number of alleged misuses of parliamentary entitlements were revealed.
Bronwyn Bishop has resigned as Speaker of the House of Representatives following sustained pressure over her travel expenses.
Mrs Bishop had faced fierce criticism for more than three weeks, since it was first revealed she had spent more than $5,000 chartering a helicopter from Melbourne to Geelong in November to attend a Liberal Party fundraiser.
She has paid back the money — plus a 25 per cent penalty — and last week apologised for the "ridiculous" chopper ride expense claim.
"I have today written to the Governor-General and tendered my resignation as Speaker of the House of Representatives effective immediately," Mrs Bishop said in a statement.
"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."
Yesterday Mrs Bishop declined to comment on reports she claimed $6,000 last year chartering a plane to fly her 160 kilometres from Sydney to Nowra.
The Finance Department is currently investigating Mrs Bishop's use of charter flights and other entitlement claims over the past decade.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott told reporters in Sydney the Government would hold a "root and branch review" of the entitlements system.
Mr Abbott said the review will be conducted by former secretary of the Department of Finance, David Tune, and Remuneration Tribunal chairman John Conde and is designed to create a system that is "simple, effective and clear".
"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.
"We have a situation where spending is arguably inside the rules, but plainly outside of community expectations, and that's what needs to be dealt with once and for all."
Mr Abbott said it had been a "very difficult day" for Mrs Bishop, but she had done the right thing by people of Australia.
"Today is not the day to offer an appreciation of Bronwyn Bishop's long parliamentary career, her long career in public life," he said.
"I have a great deal of personal respect for Bronwyn Bishop and without wanting to underplay the significance of some of the errors of judgement, which she herself has conceded and apologised for, I think she has certainly done the right thing today.
"No-one who saw Bronwyn on television the other day could be under any doubt as to her remorse."
Shorten, Wilkie say Bishop's resignation 'overdue'
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said Mrs Bishop's resignation was "overdue and unrepentant" and called on Mr Abbott to release the findings of the Finance Department's investigation into Mrs Bishop.
"Unfortunately Tony Abbott still won't accept that Bronwyn Bishop has done anything wrong," he said.
"Mr Abbott has blamed the system, but it was Mrs Bishop's addiction to privilege that was the real culprit."
Earlier on Sunday the Labor leader declared "enough is enough" and said Mr Abbott should lean on Mrs Bishop to resign.
Independent MP Andrew Wilkie also said Mrs Bishop's resignation was overdue and urged the Australian Federal Police to investigate her use of entitlements.
"Watching this saga unfold was worse than getting your wisdom teeth out," he said.
"The Prime Minister is wrong to suggest that this comes down to the gap between current entitlements and community expectations.
"The fact is that the current entitlements rules do not allow a member or senator to go somewhere principally for private reasons and then to certify it as an official trip. To do so is fraud."
Bishop's tumultuous time as Speaker
Mrs Bishop was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives when the Coalition came to power in 2013 and was seen as a "captain's pick" for being Mr Abbott's personal choice.
Since then she has been labelled a "biased" Speaker for ejecting Labor MPs at a far greater rate than Coalition members.
Mrs Bishop has served in Federal Parliament for almost 28 years, with 21 of those as the member for the Lower House Sydney seat of Mackellar and a further six years as a senator.
She served as the minister for defence, industry, science and personnel.
Mrs Bishop has had a long association with the Liberal party, joining it at the age of 17 and earning herself a reputation as a fierce party warrior.
After the party's defeat in the 1993 election she was touted as a potential leader but never stood as a candidate.
She is the longest serving female member of Federal Parliament.
Mrs Bishop turns 73 in October.
