Weddings, operas, anything goes for Bronwyn Bishop’s expenses
June 2006
As Speaker, Liberal MP Bronwyn Bishop claimed $600 for return flights from Sydney to Albury to attend the wedding in Wangaratta of her parliamentary colleague Sophie Mirabella.
While George Brandis, Tony Abbott, Scott Morrison and Barnaby Joyce repaid taxpayers for claiming travel expenses to attend weddings – Mrs Bishop never repaid the money, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
The newspaper reported that documents released under freedom of information laws show Mrs Bishop told bureaucrats the trip constituted government business.
An expense document written in her own hand lists only “committee chair business” when asked the purpose of flights. But her spokesman refused to answer questions about what that business was or whether Mrs Bishop had any engagements on the trip. “We’ve got no further comment,” he said.
Speaker Bronwyn Bishop charges $5000 for chopper to fundraiser