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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2015/aug/02/bronwyn-bishop-resigns-as-speaker-politics-live
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| Bronwyn Bishop resigns as Speaker – politics live | Bronwyn Bishop resigns as Speaker – politics live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 7.19pm AEST10:19 | |
| There seems to be some division in Labor camps about whether they actually support the proposed expenses review. | |
| Gillard government minister Craig Emerson, who resigned from parliament at the 2013 election, seems to think they’re not. | |
| Effect of PM's review will be to expunge all other fraudulent claims on basis that his colleagues were victims of vague guidelines. | |
| But as my colleague Shalailah Medora pointed out, Bill Shorten said they would consider it. His statement of just over an hour ago said: | |
| Labor is up for a review of the entitlements system to ensure it is consistent with community expectations. | |
| This doesn’t not absolve Mr Abbott of releasing the findings of the Finance Department’s investigation into Mrs Bishop’s alleged misuse of entitlements publicly. | |
| 7.09pm AEST10:09 | |
| If you’re still confused about the existing rules for parliamentary expenses, join the club. | |
| As Lenore Taylor explains here, “the take home message is there are no rules.” | |
| She writes: | |
| So in the eyes of the law politicians who do the wrong thing, or push the boundaries, can get away with almost anything. The only brake is the court of public opinion, if they get caught. | |
| That’s basically Tony Abbott’s argument, although in his case it has the added benefit of not having to say publicly that a member of his government did anything wrong. | |
| As some pointed out, the government is not always so forgiving of mucking up the paperwork. | |
| Memo PM: if you're looking for a sanction for Bronwyn Bishop, just apply the same rules you do to a Centrelink recipient who stuffs up. | |
| 6.57pm AEST09:57 | 6.57pm AEST09:57 |
| Nick Xenophon, the independent South Australian senator, has drafted a bill governing parliamentary expenses based on a system introduced in the UK to deal with expenses scandals over there. | Nick Xenophon, the independent South Australian senator, has drafted a bill governing parliamentary expenses based on a system introduced in the UK to deal with expenses scandals over there. |
| He welcomed today’s announcement of a review but said he didn’t think it would have the “teeth” of his proposed legislation, which includes making MP’s pay back twice what they owe on any disallowed claims. | He welcomed today’s announcement of a review but said he didn’t think it would have the “teeth” of his proposed legislation, which includes making MP’s pay back twice what they owe on any disallowed claims. |
| He’s also accused Labor of playing politics by not supporting his bill, saying: | He’s also accused Labor of playing politics by not supporting his bill, saying: |
| The risk here is that the opposition will crow about Bronwyn Bishop resigning, when the big picture is that the whole system of parliamentary entitlements must be fundamentally reformed. | |
| This is not about Bishop – it’s about taxpayers being treated as pawns by both sides | |
| Updated at 7.03pm AEST | |
| 6.47pm AEST09:47 | 6.47pm AEST09:47 |
| This is the third time in four years that the Australian parliament has suddenly lost its Speaker, and the second time it lost a Speaker to an expenses scandal. | |
| Hopefully past Tony Abbott has some helpful advice for present-day Tony Abbott to help him weather this storm. He made this comment at the departure of Harry Jenkins in 2011. | |
| The Speaker's resignation reflects a government that is in chaos. The Govt has lost its way, lost its majority and now lost its speaker. | The Speaker's resignation reflects a government that is in chaos. The Govt has lost its way, lost its majority and now lost its speaker. |
| Never mind. | Never mind. |
| Updated at 7.04pm AEST | |
| 6.41pm AEST09:41 | 6.41pm AEST09:41 |
| As to who the next Speaker should be, the internet recommendation engine appears to be highly favouring Dr Sharman Stone as a long-serving female Liberal MP who is a good bit less controversial than Bishop. | As to who the next Speaker should be, the internet recommendation engine appears to be highly favouring Dr Sharman Stone as a long-serving female Liberal MP who is a good bit less controversial than Bishop. |
| Fairfax’s Mark Kenny has given her the nod, calling her the “ideal choice” for her recent declaration that question time was “rubbish”. He also threw Teresa Gambaro and Jane Prentice into the ring. | Fairfax’s Mark Kenny has given her the nod, calling her the “ideal choice” for her recent declaration that question time was “rubbish”. He also threw Teresa Gambaro and Jane Prentice into the ring. |
| Stone also had support from the opposition benches: | Stone also had support from the opposition benches: |
| How about @SharmanStone or @JanePrentice_MP for Speaker - intelligent, experienced, decent Liberal women, would be an ornament to Parliament | How about @SharmanStone or @JanePrentice_MP for Speaker - intelligent, experienced, decent Liberal women, would be an ornament to Parliament |
| And then there are wildcard nominations: | And then there are wildcard nominations: |
| I think we should aim high and try to get Morgan Freeman as Speaker. He has the best narration voice around... him or @StephenFry, maybe? | I think we should aim high and try to get Morgan Freeman as Speaker. He has the best narration voice around... him or @StephenFry, maybe? |
| My vote would be for James Earl Jones, but at 84 he is 14 years past the mandatory retirement age for high court judges which, applying Kenny’s rule, makes him seven times more inappropriate than Philip Ruddock or Bruce Scott. | My vote would be for James Earl Jones, but at 84 he is 14 years past the mandatory retirement age for high court judges which, applying Kenny’s rule, makes him seven times more inappropriate than Philip Ruddock or Bruce Scott. |
| Updated at 6.44pm AEST | Updated at 6.44pm AEST |
| 6.33pm AEST09:33 | 6.33pm AEST09:33 |
| Guardian Australia’s political editor, Lenore Taylor, who spent much of the past week fossicking through Bronwyn Bishop’s expenses claims to find 15 other trips the former Speaker had claimed as “committee business” without the knowledge of said committee, has weighed in. | Guardian Australia’s political editor, Lenore Taylor, who spent much of the past week fossicking through Bronwyn Bishop’s expenses claims to find 15 other trips the former Speaker had claimed as “committee business” without the knowledge of said committee, has weighed in. |
| She writes that while it’s right to by cynical about both Bishop’s resignation and Tony Abbott’s sudden concern about the rules governing expenses, some good could come from both. | She writes that while it’s right to by cynical about both Bishop’s resignation and Tony Abbott’s sudden concern about the rules governing expenses, some good could come from both. |
| She resigned, belatedly and reluctantly, for purely political reasons – because the Abbott government had run out of all other options and the prime minister was paying too high a personal price to continue to protect her. | She resigned, belatedly and reluctantly, for purely political reasons – because the Abbott government had run out of all other options and the prime minister was paying too high a personal price to continue to protect her. |
| But the damage from the whole affair and inevitable scrutiny of her successor might just mean they take a more even-handed approach to the job. The Coalition might even make good its pre-election promises that the Speaker should be truly independent, refrain from attending party room meetings (and presumably also party fundraisers). | But the damage from the whole affair and inevitable scrutiny of her successor might just mean they take a more even-handed approach to the job. The Coalition might even make good its pre-election promises that the Speaker should be truly independent, refrain from attending party room meetings (and presumably also party fundraisers). |
| You can read the rest of Lenore’s piece here. | You can read the rest of Lenore’s piece here. |
| Updated at 6.45pm AEST | Updated at 6.45pm AEST |
| 6.16pm AEST09:16 | 6.16pm AEST09:16 |
| The independent Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie, has also put out a statement celebrating Bronwyn Bishop’s resignation. It opens strongly: | The independent Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie, has also put out a statement celebrating Bronwyn Bishop’s resignation. It opens strongly: |
| Thank God for that. | Thank God for that. |
| I’m inclined to think it would have been nice to end it there, Albo-style, but Wilkie continues: | I’m inclined to think it would have been nice to end it there, Albo-style, but Wilkie continues: |
| Watching this saga unfold was worse than getting your wisdom teeth out. | Watching this saga unfold was worse than getting your wisdom teeth out. |
| Bronwyn Bishop’s resignation is overdue and must not be the end of action taken against her in particular. The Member for Mackellar’s misuse of entitlements is of remarkable proportions and must be investigated by the Australian Federal Police to find out if criminal fraud has occurred. | Bronwyn Bishop’s resignation is overdue and must not be the end of action taken against her in particular. The Member for Mackellar’s misuse of entitlements is of remarkable proportions and must be investigated by the Australian Federal Police to find out if criminal fraud has occurred. |
| But the Prime Minister is wrong to suggest that this comes down to the gap between current entitlements and community expectations. The fact is that the current entitlements rules do not allow a Member or Senator to go somewhere principally for private reasons and then to certify it as an official trip. To do so is fraud. | But the Prime Minister is wrong to suggest that this comes down to the gap between current entitlements and community expectations. The fact is that the current entitlements rules do not allow a Member or Senator to go somewhere principally for private reasons and then to certify it as an official trip. To do so is fraud. |
| 6.08pm AEST09:08 | 6.08pm AEST09:08 |
| Opposition leader Bill Shorten is not satisfied with Bronwyn Bishop’s resignation, and has upgraded his rhetoric from an expenses scandal to a “saga”. That may be warranted. | Opposition leader Bill Shorten is not satisfied with Bronwyn Bishop’s resignation, and has upgraded his rhetoric from an expenses scandal to a “saga”. That may be warranted. |
| Here’s his statement: | Here’s his statement: |
| The resignation of Mrs Bishop from the position of Speaker, like her apology, was overdue and unrepentant. | The resignation of Mrs Bishop from the position of Speaker, like her apology, was overdue and unrepentant. |
| Unfortunately Tony Abbott still won’t accept that Bronwyn Bishop has done anything wrong. | Unfortunately Tony Abbott still won’t accept that Bronwyn Bishop has done anything wrong. |
| Mr Abbott has blamed the system, but it was Mrs Bishop’s addiction to privilege that was the real culprit. | Mr Abbott has blamed the system, but it was Mrs Bishop’s addiction to privilege that was the real culprit. |
| Mrs Bishop hasn’t resigned because it was the right thing to do, it was because she and Mr Abbott realised they had no other choice. | Mrs Bishop hasn’t resigned because it was the right thing to do, it was because she and Mr Abbott realised they had no other choice. |
| As I have consistently said throughout this saga, Labor is up for a review of the entitlements system to ensure it is consistent with community expectations. | As I have consistently said throughout this saga, Labor is up for a review of the entitlements system to ensure it is consistent with community expectations. |
| This doesn’t not absolve Mr Abbott of releasing the findings of the Finance Department’s investigation into Mrs Bishop’s alleged misuse of entitlements publicly.” | This doesn’t not absolve Mr Abbott of releasing the findings of the Finance Department’s investigation into Mrs Bishop’s alleged misuse of entitlements publicly.” |
| 6.05pm AEST09:05 | 6.05pm AEST09:05 |
| Bronwyn Bishop also holds the record as the longest-serving female parliamentarian, which she cracked in October last year. | Bronwyn Bishop also holds the record as the longest-serving female parliamentarian, which she cracked in October last year. |
| Here’s Shalailah Medhora with a few more highlights from Bishop’s 27-years (and counting) in parliament: | Here’s Shalailah Medhora with a few more highlights from Bishop’s 27-years (and counting) in parliament: |
| She quickly gained a reputation for her forthright and sometimes confrontational style of cross-examination in Senate estimate committees and fiery chamber performances. | She quickly gained a reputation for her forthright and sometimes confrontational style of cross-examination in Senate estimate committees and fiery chamber performances. |
| “I’m reminded in fact of the exchange I heard recently in parliament house when someone said, ‘Why do so many people take an instant dislike to Senator Bishop?’ to which the answer was, ‘It saves time,’ ” the then foreign minister, Gareth Evans, quipped during a debate in 1992. | “I’m reminded in fact of the exchange I heard recently in parliament house when someone said, ‘Why do so many people take an instant dislike to Senator Bishop?’ to which the answer was, ‘It saves time,’ ” the then foreign minister, Gareth Evans, quipped during a debate in 1992. |
| You can read Shalailah’s full piece here. | You can read Shalailah’s full piece here. |
| Updated at 6.31pm AEST | Updated at 6.31pm AEST |
| 5.57pm AEST08:57 | 5.57pm AEST08:57 |
| Before we get to speculation about who will be the successor to the speaker’s chair, let’s have a moment of silence for Bronwyn Bishop’s frankly impressive record for ejecting opposition MP’s under standing order 94A. | Before we get to speculation about who will be the successor to the speaker’s chair, let’s have a moment of silence for Bronwyn Bishop’s frankly impressive record for ejecting opposition MP’s under standing order 94A. |
| At last count, as tallied by manager of opposition business Tony Burke, she had expelled Labor MP’s on 393 occasions, and coalition MP’s on just seven. | At last count, as tallied by manager of opposition business Tony Burke, she had expelled Labor MP’s on 393 occasions, and coalition MP’s on just seven. |
| Her time was cut short - but Madame Speaker's 94A record will take a hell of a lot of catching. | Her time was cut short - but Madame Speaker's 94A record will take a hell of a lot of catching. |
| 5.48pm AEST08:48 | 5.48pm AEST08:48 |
| Looking to twitter, there seems to be a bit of skepticism about the whole, “it’s not Bronwyn, it’s the system” line. | Looking to twitter, there seems to be a bit of skepticism about the whole, “it’s not Bronwyn, it’s the system” line. |
| Good to see it's not really anything to do with the speaker that has caused the speaker to resign... | Good to see it's not really anything to do with the speaker that has caused the speaker to resign... |
| a welcome review of entitlements oh and by the way Bronwyn has resigned. Hounded out of office by ingrates. | a welcome review of entitlements oh and by the way Bronwyn has resigned. Hounded out of office by ingrates. |
| 5.39pm AEST08:39 | 5.39pm AEST08:39 |
| Tony Abbott said the hammering Bronwyn Bishop received over her expenses claims exposed a problem with the system, rather than a problem with the way people might use the system. | Tony Abbott said the hammering Bronwyn Bishop received over her expenses claims exposed a problem with the system, rather than a problem with the way people might use the system. |
| Abbott: | Abbott: |
| Plainly the system that we have is deficient. | Plainly the system that we have is deficient. |
| The public deserves to be absolutely confident taxpayers’ money is not being abused. | The public deserves to be absolutely confident taxpayers’ money is not being abused. |
| Abbott told reporters it would “not be a quickie review” but would instead be a “very wide ranging review indeed.” | Abbott told reporters it would “not be a quickie review” but would instead be a “very wide ranging review indeed.” |
| Here’s AAP with a bit more: | Here’s AAP with a bit more: |
| The review will be carried out by former Finance Department head David Tune and head of the Remuneration Tribunal John Conde. | The review will be carried out by former Finance Department head David Tune and head of the Remuneration Tribunal John Conde. |
| Mr Abbott insisted the review would not be a “quickie” but declined to give a specific time frame. | Mr Abbott insisted the review would not be a “quickie” but declined to give a specific time frame. |
| The prime minister refused to divulge details of his conversation with Mrs Bishop, who he acknowledged as one of his friends. | The prime minister refused to divulge details of his conversation with Mrs Bishop, who he acknowledged as one of his friends. |
| “This has obviously been a very difficult day for Bronwyn Bishop,” Mr Abbott said. | “This has obviously been a very difficult day for Bronwyn Bishop,” Mr Abbott said. |
| 5.24pm AEST08:24 | 5.24pm AEST08:24 |
| Clive Palmer, who has been campaigning for Bronwyn Bishop’s resignation as speaker for the past four days and even started a petition in the name of #RealDemocracy, is very pleased with this afternoon’s development. | Clive Palmer, who has been campaigning for Bronwyn Bishop’s resignation as speaker for the past four days and even started a petition in the name of #RealDemocracy, is very pleased with this afternoon’s development. |
| Congratulations #BronwynBishop for finally listening to Australian public & resigning as #Speaker #byebyebronwyn #auspoI | Congratulations #BronwynBishop for finally listening to Australian public & resigning as #Speaker #byebyebronwyn #auspoI |
| 5.14pm AEST08:14 | 5.14pm AEST08:14 |
| Bronwyn Bishop’s office has released this statement: | Bronwyn Bishop’s office has released this statement: |
| I have today written to the governor general and tendered my resignation as Speaker of the House of Representatives effective immediately. I have not taken this decision lightly, however it is because of my love and respect for the institution of the parliament and the Australian people that I have resigned as Speaker. | I have today written to the governor general and tendered my resignation as Speaker of the House of Representatives effective immediately. I have not taken this decision lightly, however it is because of my love and respect for the institution of the parliament and the Australian people that I have resigned as Speaker. |
| I look forward to continuing to serve the people of Mackellar as their local member, the job that has always been my first responsibility despite other positions I have held within the parliament. | I look forward to continuing to serve the people of Mackellar as their local member, the job that has always been my first responsibility despite other positions I have held within the parliament. |
| ABC News 24 | ABC News 24 |
| Updated at 5.15pm AEST | Updated at 5.15pm AEST |
| 5.08pm AEST08:08 | 5.08pm AEST08:08 |
| Tony Abbott was careful not to criticise his “friend and colleague” in that brief press conference this afternoon, saying: | Tony Abbott was careful not to criticise his “friend and colleague” in that brief press conference this afternoon, saying: |
| What has become apparent is the problem is not any one particular person, the problem is the rules. So the problem is not with the people that make excessive expenses claims; the problem is that expenses claims can be made. | What has become apparent is the problem is not any one particular person, the problem is the rules. So the problem is not with the people that make excessive expenses claims; the problem is that expenses claims can be made. |
| Abbott continued: | Abbott continued: |
| Clearly we have a situation where spending is arguably inside the rules but plainly outside of community expectations. | Clearly we have a situation where spending is arguably inside the rules but plainly outside of community expectations. |
| Updated at 5.11pm AEST | Updated at 5.11pm AEST |
| 5.03pm AEST08:03 | 5.03pm AEST08:03 |
| Bronwyn Bishop’s resignation follows weeks of embarrassing stories about her somewhat grandiose expenses claims, beginning with the revelation that she had spent more than $5,000 on a helicopter from Melbourne to Geelong to attend a Liberal party function. | Bronwyn Bishop’s resignation follows weeks of embarrassing stories about her somewhat grandiose expenses claims, beginning with the revelation that she had spent more than $5,000 on a helicopter from Melbourne to Geelong to attend a Liberal party function. |
| My colleague, Shalailah Medhora, has summarised things here. | My colleague, Shalailah Medhora, has summarised things here. |
| Updated at 6.32pm AEST | Updated at 6.32pm AEST |
| 5.03pm AEST08:03 | 5.03pm AEST08:03 |
| Good afternoon and welcome to this special Sunday edition of Politics Live to mark the resignation of Bronwyn Bishop as Speaker of the House of Representatives. The prime minister, Tony Abbott, announced the member for Mackellar’s resignation a few minutes ago. | Good afternoon and welcome to this special Sunday edition of Politics Live to mark the resignation of Bronwyn Bishop as Speaker of the House of Representatives. The prime minister, Tony Abbott, announced the member for Mackellar’s resignation a few minutes ago. |
| And here we go... | And here we go... |
| Updated at 5.13pm AEST | Updated at 5.13pm AEST |