The Claim
“Spent $90,000 to send The Speaker to Europe for a fortnight so that she could apply for a job.”
Original Sources Provided
✅ FACTUAL VERIFICATION
The core claim is factually accurate. In late 2014, then-Speaker Bronwyn Bishop undertook a 15-day (fortnight) official visit to Europe that cost taxpayers approximately $88,000-$90,000 [1]. The trip included visits to Italy, Belgium, Austria and Switzerland, culminating in a week-long meeting in Geneva of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), where Bishop was campaigning to become president [2].
Expense documents reveal the breakdown included $25,400 for accommodation and food, $42,400 for airfares, and almost $14,000 for ground transport [2]. Bishop ultimately lost the IPU presidential election to Bangladesh's candidate Saber Chowdhury in October 2014 [3].
The trip formed part of a broader pattern of high overseas travel spending. In her first year as Speaker (2013-2014), Bishop spent more than $300,000 on overseas travel across six major trips [2]. An analysis by Fairfax Media showed Bishop spent more on overseas travel in a 12-month period than any of her most recent predecessors – Labor's Anna Burke, Peter Slipper, and Harry Jenkins [2].
The scandal ultimately contributed to Bishop's resignation as Speaker on August 2, 2015, following weeks of sustained pressure over her travel expenses, particularly after revelations of a separate $5,200 helicopter charter from Melbourne to Geelong for a Liberal Party fundraiser [4].
Missing Context
The trip was officially designated parliamentary business. While Bishop was indeed campaigning for the IPU presidency, the trip was structured as an official parliamentary delegation. She led a small parliamentary delegation including Liberal MP Nola Marino, Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi, and Labor parliamentarians Glenn Sterle and Tony Zappia [2].
Other delegates spent far less. On the same trip, fellow delegates spent significantly less: Nola Marino spent $21,300, Glenn Sterle spent $18,666, Tony Zappia spent $13,249, and Cory Bernardi spent $10,178 [2]. Bishop and her two staff members spent $88,084 – more than all four other delegates combined (approximately $63,000 total) [2].
The entitlement was technically within rules. Bishop defended the trip by noting that the president of the Senate who led a delegation to the same meeting 12 months prior spent $92,000, stating "it is simply the way delegations are arranged" [1]. However, Prime Minister Tony Abbott subsequently acknowledged that while the spending was "arguably inside the rules, it was plainly outside of community expectations" [4].
The "job application" framing is somewhat misleading. The IPU presidency is an elected position within an international parliamentary organization, not a salaried employment position. While it would have been a prestigious role, characterizing it as simply "applying for a job" oversimplifies the nature of the position and the diplomatic parliamentary context.
Source Credibility Assessment
New Matilda is an independent Australian online media outlet founded in 2004, describing itself as "independent journalism at its best" [5]. According to Media Bias/Fact Check, New Matilda is rated as having a left-center bias and a "mixed" factual reporting rating [5]. The outlet is generally considered progressive-leaning and has published critical coverage of both major parties, though it frequently focuses on issues of corporate power, social justice, and government accountability. The article cited in the original claim was an opinion piece about growing calls for Bishop to resign.
The specific $90,000 Europe trip figure has been independently verified by multiple mainstream sources including ABC News, The Sydney Morning Herald, and other Fairfax Media outlets [1][2], confirming the factual basis of the claim regardless of the original source's orientation.
Labor Comparison
Did Labor do something similar?
The claim implicitly suggests this was a Coalition-specific abuse. However, parliamentary entitlements controversies have affected both sides of politics:
Peter Slipper (Labor-appointed Speaker, 2011-2012): Slipper, who served as Speaker under the Gillard Labor government, was investigated by the Australian Federal Police for alleged misuse of parliamentary Cabcharge allowances totaling $954 for taxi trips in Canberra in 2010 [1]. While the amount was far smaller than Bishop's expenses, Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon questioned why the AFP investigated Slipper for $900 but initially refused to investigate Bishop for $5,000 (referring to the helicopter flight) [1]. Slipper ultimately resigned as Speaker in 2012 amid sexual harassment allegations and the Cabcharge investigation.
Anna Burke (Labor Speaker, 2012-2013): As noted above, Bishop's overseas travel spending exceeded that of her Labor predecessor Anna Burke [2]. However, Burke served as Speaker during a hung parliament with different international obligations and travel requirements.
Labor MPs' entitlement use: Labor parliamentarians have faced their own entitlement controversies. The broader issue of parliamentary entitlements has been systemic across Australian politics, with politicians from all parties facing scrutiny over expense claims over the years.
Systemic issue, not party-specific: Independent Senator Nick Xenophon noted during the Bishop scandal that "the whole system of parliamentary entitlements must be fundamentally reformed" and that "This is not about Bishop – it's about taxpayers being treated as pawns by both sides" [4].
Balanced Perspective
Legitimate parliamentary purpose vs. excessive spending: The Europe trip had some legitimate basis as official parliamentary business. The IPU is a legitimate international parliamentary organization founded in 1889, and Australia has historically participated in its activities. Bishop's candidacy for the presidency represented a bid for Australia to have greater influence in international parliamentary diplomacy [3].
However, the spending was objectively excessive compared to peers. The fact that Bishop and her staff spent more than all four other delegates combined raises legitimate questions about the necessity and proportionality of the expenses. A source familiar with the trip described Bishop's bill as "gobsmacking" [2].
Systemic failure, not just individual misconduct: Prime Minister Abbott's response acknowledged that the scandal exposed fundamental problems with the parliamentary entitlements system, announcing a "root and branch review" to be conducted by former Finance Department head David Tune and Remuneration Tribunal chairman John Conde [4]. Abbott stated the goal was to create a system that was "simple, effective and clear" and that met community expectations.
Comparative context: While Bishop's overseas spending exceeded her predecessors, it's worth noting that international travel requirements vary based on geopolitical circumstances, international obligations, and the Speaker's specific diplomatic agenda. The comparison with previous Speakers is therefore not entirely apples-to-apples.
Outcome: Bishop resigned as Speaker, paid back the helicopter flight money with a 25% penalty, and the government initiated substantial reforms to the entitlements system [4]. The scandal contributed to the establishment of the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (IPEA) to provide greater oversight of parliamentary expenses.
MISLEADING
6.0
out of 10
The claim is factually accurate in its core assertion: taxpayers did spend approximately $90,000 on Bishop's European trip during which she campaigned for the IPU presidency. However, the framing as "applying for a job" is reductive and misleading. The IPU presidency is an elected position within an international parliamentary organization, not traditional employment. The trip was structured as official parliamentary business with other parliamentarians participating, not a personal job-seeking venture.
The claim also omits crucial context: Bishop's spending, while high, was part of a systemic entitlements issue that has affected politicians across the political spectrum. Presenting this as a Coalition-specific corruption example ignores the broader bipartisan nature of parliamentary entitlements controversies in Australia, including Labor-appointed Speaker Peter Slipper's own expenses investigation.
Final Score
6.0
OUT OF 10
MISLEADING
The claim is factually accurate in its core assertion: taxpayers did spend approximately $90,000 on Bishop's European trip during which she campaigned for the IPU presidency. However, the framing as "applying for a job" is reductive and misleading. The IPU presidency is an elected position within an international parliamentary organization, not traditional employment. The trip was structured as official parliamentary business with other parliamentarians participating, not a personal job-seeking venture.
The claim also omits crucial context: Bishop's spending, while high, was part of a systemic entitlements issue that has affected politicians across the political spectrum. Presenting this as a Coalition-specific corruption example ignores the broader bipartisan nature of parliamentary entitlements controversies in Australia, including Labor-appointed Speaker Peter Slipper's own expenses investigation.
📚 SOURCES & CITATIONS (8)
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1
abc.net.au
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten is demanding Prime Minister Tony Abbott ask Speaker Bronwyn Bishop to stand aside amid an investigation into her taxpayer-funded travel.
Abc Net -
2
thecourier.com.au
Bronwyn Bishop spent more than $300,000 of taxpayers' dollars on overseas travel in her first year as Speaker.
Thecourier Com -
3
abc.net.au
Federal Speaker Bronwyn Bishop has missed out in her bid to become the president of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
Abc Net -
4
abc.net.au
Bronwyn Bishop resigns as Speaker of the House of Representatives following sustained pressure over her travel expenses as Prime Minister Tony Abbott announces a "root and branch review" of the entitlements system.
Abc Net -
5
mediabiasfactcheck.com
LEFT BIAS These media sources are moderately to strongly biased toward liberal causes through story selection and/or political affiliation. They may
Media Bias/Fact Check -
6
sbs.com.au
Bronwyn Bishop has bowed to public pressure and resigned from the Speaker's chair over a travel expenses scandal.
SBS News -
7
theconversation.com
Bronwyn Bishop has finally quit the speakership after weeks of revelations about her extravagant claims.
The Conversation -
8
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Rating Scale Methodology
1-3: FALSE
Factually incorrect or malicious fabrication.
4-6: PARTIAL
Some truth but context is missing or skewed.
7-9: MOSTLY TRUE
Minor technicalities or phrasing issues.
10: ACCURATE
Perfectly verified and contextually fair.
Methodology: Ratings are determined through cross-referencing official government records, independent fact-checking organizations, and primary source documents.