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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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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Bronwyn Bishop resigns as Speaker – as it happened | Bronwyn Bishop resigns as Speaker – as it happened |
| (14 days later) | |
| 10.54am BST | 10.54am BST |
| 10:54 | 10:54 |
| That’s about it from us this evening. The coming days will be filled with speculation about who will be appointed Speaker, but for now here’s where we’re at: | That’s about it from us this evening. The coming days will be filled with speculation about who will be appointed Speaker, but for now here’s where we’re at: |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.03am BST | at 11.03am BST |
| 10.42am BST | 10.42am BST |
| 10:42 | 10:42 |
| Here’s a handy timeline of the expenses saga, in case you’re having trouble keeping track. | Here’s a handy timeline of the expenses saga, in case you’re having trouble keeping track. |
| 10.35am BST | 10.35am BST |
| 10:35 | 10:35 |
| And finally we have a minister showing support for Bronwyn Bishop following her resignation as speaker. | And finally we have a minister showing support for Bronwyn Bishop following her resignation as speaker. |
| Unsurprisingly, it’s Christopher Pyne. Barnaby Joyce got in early with his show of support on Sky News this morning. | Unsurprisingly, it’s Christopher Pyne. Barnaby Joyce got in early with his show of support on Sky News this morning. |
| Bronwyn Bishop was an excellent Speaker, is a great friend and remains a valued colleague. | Bronwyn Bishop was an excellent Speaker, is a great friend and remains a valued colleague. |
| The remainder of the frontbench is showing support by refraining from sarcastically taking public transport. | The remainder of the frontbench is showing support by refraining from sarcastically taking public transport. |
| As Tony Abbott said at this afternoon’s press conference: | As Tony Abbott said at this afternoon’s press conference: |
| This has obviously been a very difficult day for Bronwyn Bishop. It has been a very difficult day for Bronwyn Bishop. And I think we should respect the fact that it has been a very difficult day for Bronwyn Bishop. | This has obviously been a very difficult day for Bronwyn Bishop. It has been a very difficult day for Bronwyn Bishop. And I think we should respect the fact that it has been a very difficult day for Bronwyn Bishop. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 10.44am BST | at 10.44am BST |
| 10.19am BST | 10.19am BST |
| 10:19 | 10:19 |
| There seems to be some division in Labor camps about whether they actually support the proposed expenses review. | 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 its not. | Gillard government minister Craig Emerson, who resigned from parliament at the 2013 election, seems to think its not. |
| Effect of PM's review will be to expunge all other fraudulent claims on basis that his colleagues were victims of vague guidelines. | 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: | 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. | 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. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 10.45am BST | at 10.45am BST |
| 10.09am BST | 10.09am BST |
| 10:09 | 10:09 |
| If you’re still confused about the existing rules for parliamentary expenses, join the club. | 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”. | As Lenore Taylor explains here, “the take home message is there are no rules”. |
| She writes: | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 10.45am BST | at 10.45am BST |
| 9.57am BST | 9.57am BST |
| 09:57 | 09:57 |
| 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. | 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 | This is not about Bishop – it’s about taxpayers being treated as pawns by both sides |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 10.03am BST | at 10.03am BST |
| 9.47am BST | 9.47am BST |
| 09:47 | 09:47 |
| 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. | 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. | 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 | Updated |
| at 10.04am BST | at 10.04am BST |
| 9.41am BST | 9.41am BST |
| 09:41 | 09:41 |
| 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 | Updated |
| at 9.44am BST | at 9.44am BST |
| 9.33am BST | 9.33am BST |
| 09:33 | 09:33 |
| 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 | Updated |
| at 9.45am BST | at 9.45am BST |
| 9.16am BST | 9.16am BST |
| 09:16 | 09:16 |
| 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. |