Fox,

What law has the Speaker, Bronwyn Bishop broken? You claim to be an expert on the law relevant to politicians entitlements.

You have previously insisted on due legal process and a formal court finding of guilty for those you happen to side with.

otb,

"Labor believes the case hinges on whether Mrs Bishop signed a Presiding Officer's Charter Certification form. The form requires the Speaker to confirm that a charter is for her "office holder duties" and states that knowingly giving false or misleading information is a serious criminal offence."

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/bronwyn-bishop-expense-scandal-investigation-in-the-hands-of-finance-department-20150718-gif75a.html#ixzz3grbYzb29

Of course, due process should be allowed to take place - but the above outlines the potential offence.

Foxy,

Considering that labor appointed Slipper, who had been removed from pre selection for abusing entitlements, as speaker and kept him even after he spent taxpayers money like water. The left has no wiggle room.

Let's see how Shorten fares after throwing Labor's asylum seeker policy overboard and admitting that Rudd and Juliar were mass killers.

Poirot,

I wouldn't be placing to much stock on what any of the federal members who didn't implement the recommendations of the ANAO Report have to say on politicians entitlements.

Cynicism rules. There would be precious few politicians on both sides of the Parliament, Reps and Senate, who wouldn't prefer that Bronwyn Bishop should fall on her sword form being undermined and bullied to do so.

Of course Bishop erred and was casual at least (talking principles where public money is concerned) so as far as we the public might see politicians' allowances.

I would very much like to say that politicians have the flexibility they need where their travel and other entitlements are concerned. However, we all being obliged to accept that the politicians we elected to represent us have demonstrated in the past and present, that they have a vested interest in conditions that are easily abused and they are quite determined to protect that situation.

The auditors and the administering department have walked over eggshells for years, diplomatically trying to get interest in some accountability and proposing solutions, but to no avail. True, the Abbott government recently made some very slight amendment, but avoided the ANAO Report that their political opponents (but not opponents where politicians' entitlements are concerned!) deliberately ignored when in Office.

'Bronnie' must fall to protect all of the other noses in the trough of public money. I must say (reluctantly) to her credit, that she is proving that women can be tough and resilient, because she is not volunteering to be the whipping boy so they all can continue on, business as usual.

As usual, there are so many self-serving, cynical, greedy, career politicians in both Houses that it is unlikely a champion, a statesman, will emerge to represent the public interest.

Dear Poirot,

It should not be that difficult to work out whether an
MP chartering a helicopter to get to a party fund-raiser
is breaking the rules. Yet its amazing how many rusted-on
Liberal supporters still don't get it.

Dear Shadow Minister,

Mr Slipper has been cleared of all charges by the Supreme
Court.

It is not a question of how Mr Shorten will fare in the
future. It is a question of - Will Mr Abbott have a future?

Fox.
The numbers Foxy, on topic numbers, cost of the helicopter compared to cost of the schoolyard-type noisy interruption of genuine national debate and business.

And an individual Observer for a day would not see the need to constantly try t get the House in order.