This was published 7 years ago
Bronwyn Bishop cut short participation with expenses probe, report reveals
Every Monday to Friday I'll be delivering a personally-curated newsletter. Call it the double espresso of news – the morning news kickstart for busy people who want to know what they need to know before they get going.
By Latika Bourke
1. Bronwyn Bishop
A pretty damning review into former Speaker Bronwyn Bishop's use of expenses and entitlements was released under Freedom of Information laws overnight. The review was commissioned by former PM Tony Abbott and designed to review ten years of her expenses after her infamous $5,000 chopper ride between Geelong and Melbourne was revealed. She provided material related to three financial years, then simply stopped participating in the review when she announced she was quitting parliament.
It is, frankly, pretty astounding. [My reports/Fairfax]
The report reveals Bishop repaid nearly $7,000 more in flights, cabs and chauffeur rides claimed to attend the weddings of her friends - former MPs: Sophie Mirabella, Peter Slipper and Teresa Gambaro. She also docked taxpayers for cab rides between Sydney city and the Opera House to attend Kerry Packer's funeral, prompting the Herald Sun's "Three weddings and a funeral" headline. [Tom Minear and Rob Harris]
She appears to have lost interest when the going got tough, writes Rob Harris. [Herald Sun]
So Bishop's response? On Sky News last night, she railed against socialists and said she had done nothing wrong. She was subsequently praised by right-wing Sky host Paul Murray for being "open and honest."
It is in every decent centre-right MP's interest that Bronwyn Bishop is seen to subjected to proper scrutiny and not let off by their own. Any perception otherwise is toxic and is the kind of stuff that ferments anti-establishment anger in the community.
2. Aust politics
"Liberal economics has gone nowhere since 2008... and has run into a dead end," says Paul Keating. Very significant. [Deborah Snow/Fairfax]
The government has announced a code of conduct for the sugar industry. [Alexandra Beech/ABC]
Australia is considering relaxing its rule on foreign investment raising the threshold for review from zero to $100 million. [David Uren/The Australian]
The greatest misjudgment in the China-Australia extradition treaty was not made by Turnbull or Bishop but by the trade minister, says Greg Sheridan, who spectacularly lays into Steve Ciobo. [The Australian]
Tony Abbott could face a preselection threat in his seat of Waringah. [Niki Savva/The Australian]
3. Brexit Day
I know of at least one Brexit Day drinks (hint hint, definitely being hosted by Tories!) being held tonight.
There was jubilation amongst some on the government backbenches in Parliament as Theresa May finally pulled the trigger. But there was sadness in Brussels, where a remorseful Donald Tusk said "we miss you already." [My report/Fairfax]
France and Germany have already rejected the UK's bid for parallel trade negotiations on the exit and future trading relationships. [Reuters]
4. Westminster silence
Thousands have gathered on Westminster Bridge to pay tribute to the four killed and 50 injured in the attack which took place one week ago. [BBC]
The Romanian woman who fell into the Thames after being driven at by Khalid Masood is still in a critical condition. The striking aspect of all the statements released by the families of those injured and killed is the complete lack of malice. [My report/Fairfax]
5. Paris Agreement under discussion
Donald Trump's press secretary Sean Spicer says whether or not the US withdraws from the Paris climate change agreement "is still under discussion in the administration".
6. New Samsung Galaxy 8
New toys. New toys. [Peter Wells/Fairfax] (I'm saving myself for an updated Google Pixel, however. Still the best phone I've used to date.)
And that's it from me today, you can follow me on Facebook for more.
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