| Bronwyn Bishop's treatment over travel misuse claims different to former speaker Peter Slipper: Labor |
The Federal Opposition says Speaker Bronwyn Bishop should receive the same treatment as former speaker Peter Slipper over allegations of misusing travel allowances.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) have referred a complaint about Mrs Bishop's chartering of a helicopter to the Department of Finance, which will then determine if the matter is handed back to the AFP for further action.
However Labor MP Pat Conroy said the matter should be investigated by the AFP, just like it investigated allegations into Mr Slipper.
Last November Mrs Bishop chartered a helicopter for a 90-kilometre trip from Melbourne to a party fundraiser near Geelong.
Mr Slipper was last year found guilty in the ACT Magistrates Court on three counts of dishonesty over the misuse of his parliamentary Cabcharge allowance, but this year won an appeal against the convictions.
Take a look below at the timeline of the events concerning the two speakers:
Bronwyn Bishop
July 15, 2015:
The media reveals Mrs Bishop spent $5,227 on a return trip between Melbourne and Geelong to attend a Liberal party fundraiser.
Her office says she took the flight to meet time commitments, even though the trip only takes about an hour each way by road.
July 16, 2015:
Treasurer Joe Hockey says the trip does not pass the "sniff test". Opposition Leader Bill Shorten describes it as "colossally arrogant".
By the afternoon, Mrs Bishop agrees to pay back the money plus a 25 per cent penalty.
July 17, 2015:
Labor writes to the AFP asking it to investigate whether Mrs Bishop falsely declared the trip was for "official purposes".
By late evening, the AFP releases a statement indicating the matter will be referred to the Department of Finance.
July 18, 2015:
Labor MP Pat Conroy says Mrs Bishop is being treated differently to Mr Slipper who was investigated by the AFP. He also says Mrs Bishop should consider resigning.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott says Mrs Bishop does not need to step down and the matter is being dealt with properly.
Mrs Bishop describes the story as a "beat-up", and says she will not be resigning as Speaker.
Peter Slipper
April 20, 2012:
Former Liberal staffer James Ashby files documents in the Federal Court detailing alleged explicit text messages, unwanted sexual advances and inappropriate comments by Mr Slipper, who is also accused of misusing $954 of taxpayer-funded Cabcharges.
April 21, 2012:
Then opposition leader Tony Abbott says Mr Slipper must step aside while "these extremely serious allegations" are investigated by the AFP.
"It is very important that the prime minister [Julia Gillard] act swiftly to require the speaker to step aside," he says.
"And it is very important that the Australian Federal Police quickly investigate these matters so that they can be resolved as soon as humanly possible."
The next day, Mr Slipper steps aside as speaker but emphatically denies the allegations.
May 2, 2012:
The AFP launches a formal investigation into the fraud allegations against Mr Slipper.
December 12, 2012:
Federal Court Justice Steven Rares throws the sexual harassment case out, calling it an "abuse of process".
Mr Ashby later wins an appeal against the decision, but drops the legal action in June 2014.
October 13, 2013:
Mr Slipper tells Insiders he wrote to the Department of Finance on four occasions asking for the matter to be dealt with administratively "but they used the excuse that, because it had been referred directly to the AFP, they could not become involved".
July 28, 2014:
Mr Slipper is found guilty in the ACT Magistrates Court on three counts of dishonesty over the misuse of his parliamentary Cabcharge allowance.
In September, he is sentenced to complete 300 hours of community service, gets a two-year good behaviour bond and is told to pay back the $954.
February 26, 2015:
Mr Slipper wins an appeal against the dishonesty convictions.
| HAVE YOUR SAY!!! - What do you think about this story? Tell us here. |
|
