Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced yesterday afternoon that Mrs Bishop would step down as speaker in the House of Representatives, following weeks of controversy regarding her travel entitlements.

Earlier in the day, Mr Joyce leapt to the defence of Mrs Bishop in an interview with Sky News, saying she should be allowed to “fix up ... mistakes” and continue as speaker when parliament returns next week.

He said the 72-year-old’s use of taxpayer-funded travel perks, which have totalled many hundreds of thousands of dollars in recent years, was “not unreasonable” for a person in her position.

“If she has made a mistake, and everyone makes mistakes ... I think it should be within our capacity to say ‘fix up the mistakes and get on with the job’,” he said.

“People have a great affection for her.”

Mrs Bishop had come under intense pressure from the Opposition, and even some Coalition colleagues, to resign after details emerged about her profligate spending habits, including the now infamous “Choppergate” scandal.

Public outrage over the chartering of a helicopter to fly Mrs Bishop between Melbourne and Geelong – at a cost of more than $5000 – to attend a Liberal Party fundraiser prompted her to apologise and repay the money.

In a statement issued yesterday, Mrs Bishop said she had written to the Governor-General to tender her resignation.

“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,” she said.