SOPHIE Mirabella has distanced herself from the travel claims controversy swirling around former Liberal Party parliamentary colleague and wedding guest, Bronwyn Bishop.
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Mrs Mirabella said on the campaign trail in Wodonga on Thursday that the string of personal travel expenses claimed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, which began with a helicopter flight between Melbourne and Geelong, were “unacceptable” and undermined good work done by politicians.
Ms Bishop was a guest at the wedding of Mrs Mirabella and her husband Greg in Wangaratta in 2006.
Also on the invite list was Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who claimed $1094 of taxpayers’ money to attend the wedding before bowing to public pressure to reimburse the amount.
The Border Mail has contacted Ms Bishop’s office to confirm whether she also claimed travel expenses to attend Mrs Mirabella’s wedding.
Mrs Mirabella said she agreed with Mr Abbott’s recent warning to Ms Bishop about no more future slip-ups.
“It was the wrong thing to do and the Prime Minister has said as much and effectively put Bronwyn on probation,” Mrs Mirabella said.
“It is disappointing and I share the anger of a lot of locals who have approached me about this.
“It shouldn’t have happened.”
Mrs Mirabella was in Wodonga for a road funding announcement with Liberal MP and assistant minister for infrastructure and regional development, Jamie Briggs.
But the Liberal Indi candidate refused to comment on whether Ms Bishop should resign from the Speaker position.
“I don’t want to go into the job consequences for people,” Mrs Mirabella said.
“But it is very disappointing when politicians give the public cause to say ‘those pollies are at it again’.
“So many politicians do good work like Jamie in coming here not to just make the announcement, but listening to our local councils.”
The funding announcement for an upgrade of Thomas Mitchell Drive was the first attended by Mrs Mirabella since being pre-selected as the Liberal Party’s candidate in Indi.
“We’ve had significant infrastructure investment previously in this area,” she said.
“We had $45 million to remove the railway out of central Wodonga and had over half a billion dollars to finally complete the Hume Freeway.”
Mrs Mirabella refused to be drawn on the National Party’s delay in entering the Indi battleground.
“We are in Coalition in Canberra, we are in Coalition in Victoria and I am looking forward to campaigning with all the candidates, especially with our National Party Coalition partner.
“It is not right for me to tell the Nats or any other party what timetable they should have.
“They will have a candidate and will be great to have them on the road.”
