Australian parliamentary speaker resigns over expenses scandal

Yahoo – AFP, 2 Aug 2015

Speaker of the House Bronwyn Bishop (R) welcomes Japanese Prime Minister 

Shinzo Abe prior to his address the Australian government in the House of

 Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra on July 8, 2014 

(AFP Photo/Stefan Postles)

Speaker of the House Bronwyn Bishop (R) welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe prior to his address the Australian government in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra on July 8, 2014 (AFP Photo/Stefan Postles)

Australian parliamentary Speaker Bronwyn Bishop announced her resignation Sunday following public anger over her travel expenses, as Prime Minister Tony Abbott said a review would be launched into politicians' entitlements.

Bishop, a member of Abbott's Liberal Party, had been under fire for more than three weeks as media reports emerged of her use of taxpayers' money for trips including spending Aus$5,000 (US$3,600) on a 80-kilometre (50-mile) helicopter ride for a November political fundraiser.

"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," 72-year-old Bishop, who has served in the role since 2013, said in a statement.

Abbott said there would be a "fundamental review" of entitlements for members of parliament as "the public deserve to be absolutely confident that taxpayer money is not being abused".

"What has become apparent, particularly over the last few days, is that the problem is not any particular individual, the problem is the entitlements system more generally," the conservative leader told a press conference.

"There are still too many situations where members of parliament can do things which are inside entitlement but outside public expectations."

Abbott declined to criticise Bishop -- a veteran Liberal who has been described as his political mentor -- but said her resignation tendered to the Governor-General was the "right thing by the parliament, by the government and by the people of Australia".

Bishop had said she would repay the helicopter claim with a 25 percent penalty and later described the expense as "ridiculous". She also vowed to refund travel expenses incurred for trips to colleagues' weddings.

Her travel claims are being reviewed by the government's finance department.

Calls for Bishop to step down had grown in recent days, including from the opposition Labor party.

Bishop is the second Speaker to resign in recent years after Peter Slipper -- who previously defected from the Liberal party to become an independent MP -- quit the post in October 2012 over allegations of sexual harassment, which were later thrown out by a court.

Lord John Sewel apologised after pictures in The Sun newspaper appeared to

show him snorting cocaine with prostitutes (AFP Photo)

Related Aricle:

Britain's Lord Sewel resigns after cocaine and prostitutes scandal

"Recalibration of Free Choice"–  Mar 3, 2012 (Kryon Channelling by Lee Carroll) - (Subjects: (Old) Souls, Midpoint on 21-12-2012, Shift of Human Consciousness, Black & White vs. Color, 1 - Spirituality (Religions) shifting, Loose a Pope “soon”, 2 - Humans will change react to drama, 3 - Civilizations/Population on Earth,  4 - Alternate energy sources (Geothermal, Tidal (Paddle wheels), Wind), 5 – Financials Institutes/concepts will change (Integrity – Ethical) , 6 - News/Media/TV to change, 7 – Big Pharmaceutical company will collapse “soon”, (Keep people sick), (Integrity – Ethical)  8 – Wars will be over on Earth, Global Unity, … etc.) - (Text version)

“…5 - Integrity That May Surprise…

The Unthinkable… Politics, A Review

Humans will begin to search for integrity and fairness and it's going to happen in the places you never expect. I said this last week, so this is a review. There'll come a time when you will demand this of your politics - fairness and integrity. So when the candidates start calling each other names, you will turn your back on them and they won't get any votes. They're going to get the point real fast, don't you think? How about that?

Let me give you another potential. This country that I sit in right now [USA] will set the mold for that particular attribute. I have no clock. Watch for the youngsters to set this in motion, and they will, for they are the voters of tomorrow and they do not want the energy of today. To some of them, it's so abominable they won't even register to vote in this energy. You're going to see this soon. That was number five.. ..."