Bronwyn Bishop fires back over entitlement controversy

Former speaker and MP Bronwyn Bishop has reportedly paid the Federal Government almost $7,000 in entitlements that she claimed during her time in the government.  However, experts doing the tally have estimated that real amount that should be paid back is in the area of $14,000.

Appearing on Sky News last night, Ms Bishop fired up at the interviewer who pushed the question surrounding the entitlements that she used during her time in office. Ms. Bishop said bluntly, ““Just give me a break here. I did nothing wrong”.  She added, “None of that had anything to do with my greed or my pleasure.”

Ms Bishop insists that the focus of the entitlements controversy shouldn’t be on her but other politicians like Richard Di Natale and Sam Dastyari.  Mr Dastyari was labeled “living example of the culture of entitlement” by Former New South Wales Labor minister Rodney Cavalier after it was discovered he asked a Chinese-linked company to pay large travel debts.

Ms Bishop said of these examples, “Look at those others. It was all for their benefit or their gain or greed”.  She added, “What I was doing was my job and I was determined that I would do my job to the best of my ability.”

The Department of Finance may disagree after a probe showed Ms Bishop used taxpayer funds to attend weddings as well as late Australian business mogul Kerry Packer’s funeral.

Ms Bishop also had to pay back $7,200 for the helicopter ride that caused the scandal that resulted in her resignation in 2015.

Do you think she should pay more?  Do you think the matter should be investigated more in-depth or has she paid back what she owes?