‘Catching the train’: Turnbull’s sly dig at Bronwyn Bishop
On a morning when Speaker Bronwyn Bishop’s high-flying travel expense claims are once again attracting attention, Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has reminded Australia that he catches public transport, just like an average Joe.
On Wednesday morning he shared his travel arrangements with his 395,000 Twitter followers, letting them know he was transferring from a Melbourne tram to a V-Line train on his way to a meeting in Geelong.
After 2 interesting tram trips last night now on the 109 on Collins St to Sth Cross to get the train to Geelong to visit @SHendersonMP
— Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm) July 28, 2015
A conductor checked my myki to confirm I had tapped on. So flattered he thought I was fit enough to have been able to leap over the barrier
— Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm) July 28, 2015
At Sth Geelong station with @SHendersonMP before going to Torquay to inspect the @NBN_Australia rollout. pic.twitter.com/PWJI7dBNAD
— Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm) July 28, 2015
The Speaker, on the other hand, was pilloried for claiming a $5000 chartered helicopter flight on expenses for the same journey – of less than 100kms – to attend a Liberal Party fundraiser.
• Shorten calls for speaker’s resignation
• Bishop has PM’s support
• Abbott could pay price for Bishop
Bishop says she won’t resign. Photo: AAP
Pressure on Mrs Bishop intensified on Wednesday morning when reports emerged she charged taxpayers $288 in travel allowance to stay in Brisbane on the night of Liberal MP Teresa Gambaro’s wedding in 2007, News Corp reported on Wednesday.
Mrs Bishop has also been asked to provide evidence proving she was on parliamentary business when she claimed $600 for return flights from Sydney to Albury, coinciding with the wedding of former MP Sophie Mirabella in 2006.
Ms Bishop claims she travelled to Albury on parliamentary committee business before attending Ms Mirabella’s wedding.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has backed his Speaker, but said she was “on probation” before the most recent news of her travel expense claims was brought to light.
During a press conference, Ms Bishop said she wouldn’t resign over an ‘error of judgement’.
“One doesn’t resign for an error of judgment when it’s within the guidelines, and indeed it is,” she said.
