Bronwyn Bishop’s outdated and outrageous sense of entitlement is a salutary lesson not only to politicians, but also to those they serve, the people.
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While the debate might continue to rage about the decision yesterday by the Liberal and Speaker of the federal Parliament to finally capitulate to the frenzy caused by her financial claims behaviour, it is also timely to examine exactly just how it came to this.
Ms Bishop took a helicopter to a party fundraiser at Geelong, which precipitated the litany of largesse reported in the past couple of weeks since it was disclosed.
Clearly nearly every man and his dog believed it was wrong.
Ms Bishop has continually referred to the saga since as an “error of judgement”.
This is clearly what she doesn’t get.
Neither do a lot of others.
It was “ERRORS”, multiples, numbers of times – not just one random incident that has incensed so many – serial transgressions, etcetera.
And finally, perhaps to save her job she has agreed to repay the money.
It is more than the money, it is the underlying arrogance and unacceptability of the actions.
It is a lesson for all who seek to claim for things like weddings or private celebrations – what about the realisation that “ummmmh, maybe I didn’t deserve to claim that”– and go back and correct it.
Just weeks ago this newspaper spoke of the responsibility incumbent on those who serve us.
We need to have a Barnaby Joyce we can respect and look up to. He of all people now knows that choofing off to a wedding is his prerogative, and not out of our purse.
He should know what is reasonable, lawful and legitimate.
The issues of claiming expenses and parliamentary duties are not inclusive.
The so-called old sniff or taste test has to be applied – like it does for the rest of us.
Again, and we repeat it, it means that if it smells off, it’s most likely off – and you shouldn’t go there.
Politicians can no longer pretend the guidelines are so grey as to be utterly incomprehensible.
Just apply the practical, human test, until the rigid guidelines are put in place, so even the dumbest of politicians can’t get it wrong.