By political reporter Anna Henderson Friday 31 July 2015
Photo: Labor has stepped up its parliamentary threats if House of Representatives Speaker Bronwyn Bishop does not resign. (AAP: Mick Tsikas)
Related Story: Bishop saga shows politicians cannot exploit rules: Abbott
Labor has ratcheted up its threats about causing disruption when Federal Parliament resumes, warning that if Bronwyn Bishop remains in the Speaker's chair cooperation across the dispatch box will evaporate.
Tony Burke, the manager of opposition business, said Labor would continue to press for Mrs Bishop to resign despite her apology yesterday.
Earlier this week Mr Burke said Labor would no longer respect the Speaker when she tried to chair proceedings.
Now he has broadened that to all cooperation between the two major parties, apart from parliamentary motions to mark the loss of life.
"Whatever level of goodwill and cooperation has been there in the past will apply to condolence motions and absolutely nothing else," Mr Burke told ABC's Capital Hill program.
"Any level of cooperation that the Government ordinarily relies on is gone if we have a situation where Bronwyn Bishop's still in the chair."
Mr Burke said he would not flag specific manoeuvres in advance.
"You don't flag your tactics in advance because then the Government's onto it straight away."
Education Minister Christopher Pyne has told the ABC Mr Burke "is essentially saying he will hold his breath until he gets his way in the manner of a two-year-old."
"It's a pathetic and embarrassing comment from Labor and if they attempt to carry out this silly threat they will be displaying their own petulance and unfitness for government," Mr Pyne said.
"As Manager of Opposition Business, despite the circus atmosphere under the previous Government, I always did my best to cooperate on the procedural operations of the House, because at the end of the day we're elected to Parliament to do the best we can for the Australian people."
Both Abbott and Bishop standing firm
Mrs Bishop has rebuffed calls for her resignation following revelations of her decision to charge taxpayers for a $5,227 helicopter charter and other allowances she claimed around the times she attended a number of weddings.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott said her apology showed that she was deeply remorseful and the Speaker is holding firm, maintaining she will not resign.
"She's repaid the money with penalties, she is obviously deeply remorseful," Mr Abbott told radio station 2SM.
"Anyone who saw her on television yesterday would know that this is a very, very chastened person indeed."
The Department of Finance is conducting an investigation into the taxpayer-funded helicopter trip and is reviewing Mrs Bishop's entitlements claims over the past decade.
The department has issued a statement saying it would not comment on dealings with individual MPs or the outcomes of matters being assessed that relate to politicians' expenses.
Labor has written to the Special Minister of State, Michael Ronaldson, asking him to direct the department to make the findings of the investigation public.
The Opposition has also written to the Speaker arguing that if she was truly sorry she should insist the findings be made public.
Mrs Bishop has been threatened with a no-confidence motion when Parliament resumes in just over a week.
One of the instigators of the motion, Clive Palmer, said Mrs Bishop should resign because of her age and her partisan approach in Question Time.
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- Bronwyn Bishop must show proof she did not misuse travel entitlements to attend wedding: Opposition
- Bronwyn Bishop defends taxpayer-funded travel to colleague Sophie Mirabella's wedding as 'official business'
- Bronwyn Bishop 'on probation' over taxpayer-funded helicopter trip: Tony Abbott
- Tony Abbott warns Bronwyn Bishop: 'No errors in the future' after $5,000 chopper ride
- Bronwyn Bishop should stand aside over 'arrogant misuse' of taxpayer-funded travel: Bill Shorten
- Federal Opposition 'very concerned' about investigation into Bronwyn Bishop's travel entitlements
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