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Australia Parliament Speaker Resigns

Australia Parliament Speaker Resigns
Australia Parliament Speaker Resigns

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 $3,600 on an 80-km helicopter ride for a November political fundraiser, France24 reported.

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."

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

She is the second Speaker to resign in recent years after Peter Slipper quit the post in October 2012 over allegations of sexual harassment, which were later thrown out by a court.

 

Financialtribune.com