Bronwyn Bishop's travel claim to face internal government investigation, AFP says
Updated 1 minute ago PHOTO: Bronwyn Bishop has said she believed the helicopter trip was within travel rules. (AAP: Alan Porritt) RELATED STORY: Labor asks AFP to investigate Bronwyn Bishop's chopper flight RELATED STORY: Bishop agrees to pay back $5,000 for taxpayer-funded chopper flight RELATED STORY: Bishop spends $5,000 on 80km chopper flight MAP: Australia
The Australian Federal Police say an internal government investigation will be undertaken into an allegation House of Representatives Speaker Bronwyn Bishop misused her travel entitlements.
Labor yesterday wrote to the AFP asking it to investigate the Speaker's use of a chartered helicopter to attend a Victorian Liberal Party fundraiser last year.
Mrs Bishop said she believed the use was within travel rules but would repay the $5,227 cost to "avoid any doubt".
The AFP has said it would refer Labor's allegation to the Department of Finance which would conduct an internal investigation.
It could then ask for an explanation from Mrs Bishop or refer the matter back to the federal police.
Last November Mrs Bishop chartered a helicopter for a 90-kilometre trip from Melbourne to a party fundraiser in Geelong.
The cost of the trip was revealed in the Speaker's six-monthly report to the Finance Department.
Her Liberal colleagues conceded the trip did not pass the "sniff test" and called on Mrs Bishop to provide an explanation.
On Thursday Mrs Bishop released a short statement confirming she would pay for the flight herself.
"I have today written to the Special Minister of State indicating I will reimburse the Department of Finance the costs associated with the use of my charter allowance on 5 November 2014," the statement said.
"Whilst my understanding is that this travel was conducted within the rules, to avoid any doubt, I will reimburse the full costs." Parties and misusing entitlements