Bronwyn Bishop has resigned as Speaker

Australian parliamentary Speaker Bronwyn Bishop introduced her withdrawal Sunday, August one, following people rage over her travel expenditures, as Prime Minister Tony Abbott said an overview could possibly be began politicians’ entitlements.

It follows on from the controversy over the past three weeks that started with the veteran MP hired a $5000 helicopter to get to a Liberal party fundraiser from Melbourne to Geelong.

Bishop’s resignation is the latest blow to Abbott’s government which trails the Labor opposition in opinion polls.

Even after senior ministers were distancing themselves from Bishop last week, Abbott was workshopping survival tactics with her, which resulted in that cringe-making apology.

Despite many regulations already, “there are still too many situations where Members of Parliament can do things which are inside entitlement but outside public expectations”, Abbott said.

Bronwyn Bishop is resigning as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot’s close ally Bronwyn Bishop has resigned as Speaker of the lower house of Parliament – the House of Representative – over the travel expenses scandal.

However, he said the entitlements scandal that brought down Mrs Bishop may be a turning point.

The following days saw revelations of spending come thick and fast, such as secret meetings she held and claimed expenses for, which just happened to coincide with the weddings of colleagues. “It’s due to my love and respect for the establishment of parliament and the Australian people who I’ve resigned as speaker”.

Speaking to Neil Mitchell following the speaker’s resignation on Sunday, Bill Shorten said Mrs Bishop was clearly at fault.

Meanwhile it is reported that the Finance Department has undertaken its own investigation into whether Mrs Bishop violated any rules. “Mr Abbott has blamed the system, but it was Ms Bishop’s addiction to privilege that was the real culprit”. Stricter rules on what they are entitled to do, and what they are not, would help save them from themselves.

Previously, Mr Abbott, leader of the house Christopher Pyne and Barnaby Joyce had all staunchly defended Mrs Bishop, while other ministers and MPs wanted her to go.

Hence, for the PM to think that we punters – who quite patently do not give much of a shit about political parties – will be sweet with him including “party” business as part of MP’s entitlements, then he has another thing coming.