Poirot,

I think that we have shown that inappropriate expenditure of taxpayers' money is a charge that can be leveled at just about every politician at any stage. It is just wildly hypocritical for Labor to be calling for BB to resign whilst supporting Shorten's $40 000 bribe, and doing nothing about their members that were caught spending more.

I'm sure that BB has learnt her lesson and will continue doing a fine job as speaker.

Paul1405, "..they should escort the old bag from the house to the nearest Canberra bus shelter, chuck her on the seat, leave her with a '$2.50 pensioner ticket', and say "Brommie, the next bus is in 2 hours, so, hasta la vista baby, love ya big time, good riddance, that's it sister, on ya bike!"

The ageism of the Greens.

"Whoever you vote for you get a politician!" [and all that encapsulates rather than a 'true' representative of the people] . . . and whose fault is that I hear some of the ubiquitous 'they' intone . . . .

Its not often I agree with Poirot and Paul but I do agree Bronwyn Bishop should step down... all the way down, resign from politics. It would be even better if Abbott showed the balls to force her out, but we know he won't.

Unfortunately for us, a person who says 'get your facts right, it wasn't $90,000 it was $88,000', shows just how arrogant she really is.

Poirot, I don't understand why you used this quote as though it proves ones again TA is terrible "Tony Abbott says embattled Speaker Bronwyn Bishop is on probation after copping a "justifiable hiding" over her travel expenses." To me it shows he recognises exactly what is going on and he's put her on notice.

Abbott was speaking about taking action (putting her on probation) when it was revealed she has used another helicopter since the Geelong incident.

Come on Poirot, you hate TA, that's clear, but is Abbott's support for Bishop any different than Gillard's when she was protecting Craig Thompson? You were defending her back then, spouting Thompson was innocent until proven guilty BS, but no such latitude for Bishop, who really has done nothing compared to the outright crook Thompson. This is an example of the true to form Poirot that really gets up my nose.

Hi CH,

"Poirot, I don't understand why you used this quote as though it proves ones again TA is terrible "Tony Abbott says embattled Speaker Bronwyn Bishop is on probation after copping a "justifiable hiding" over her travel expenses." To me it shows he recognises exactly what is going on and he's put her on notice."

This is Abbott holding onto Bronwyn for dear life. This is an example of Abbott not reading the writing on the wall.

We now have a Speaker "on probation".

I agree with you, CH. If it's good enough for Abbott to spout that she's on probation - then he should ask her to step down.

"On probation" - have you ever heard of such a thing?

My take is that it's a last ditch effort to douse the inferno with a bucket of water.

Yup - I did defend the process of law regarding Thomson - as at the time I was arguing he hadn't been found guilty (and has since had the findings of guilt overturned, if my memory serves)

Have you got a problem with that?

And where is the corollary between Bishop and Thomson?

She took a ride in a copter to a Lib fundraiser on Taxpayer's money. She's admitted that. She says she paid it back coz it was "large".

Why, if she maintains it was within guidelines, would she pay it back because it was "large"?

Because it wasn't within guidelines, and she knows it. Going to a Lib fundraiser to talk about the role of Speaker doesn't make it official business.

She hasn't apologised - except to say that she's sorry it all overshadowed the govt's attack on Shorten.

How's that for an "independent" Speaker?

What a joke!

This speaker Bronnie Biship is very bad to waste money on flying a short way in a helicoptor instead of a car ride. Onthebeach you say some silly things about labour party when they are the only ones who look after all the working peoples and the people on the boats and the poor people. I think you get lots of money from the pension department yourself and yet you critise the Labour party for doing all this being the right thing. Please be grateful instead of nasty all the time Onthebeach you are a strange man I think, take government money you critise still why?

Poirot is a man who seems rude to everybody all the time and I ask why is he like that to? No need to be angery just be nice to every person if you do not like them or do not agree with them, no need to be angery with every persons. I think maybe you are a bit ill or sick maybe, or even a lonely man I think?