Entitlements scandal over. Tony Abbott's put Bronwyn Bishop on 'probation' - Women's Agenda

Entitlements scandal over. Tony Abbott’s put Bronwyn Bishop on ‘probation’

There are many different types of ‘probation’, depending on the context in which it’s used, but two key versions that are most commonly applied.

The first is often applied to those who’re found guilty of a crime, but given an alternative sentence to incarceration — often with set conditions, such as travel limitations.

The second is the probation that’s applied to a new employee. Many of us who’ve worked for employers have started on contracts that designate a ‘probation’ period, when both parties can mutually terminate the contract with little or no notice period. This is where our employers are supposed to closely monitor our ability to perform the required tasks of our role, our reliability, honesty, and cultural fit with the team.

No matter what the form of probation, it’s something that comes with conditions. The expectations are usually clear and established from the outset. This gives the individual placed on probation a good understanding of what’s required, and a fair chance of completing the period.

When it comes to the probation Prime Minister Tony Abbott has placed Speaker Bronwyn Bishop on, following revelations she spent more than $5000 in travel entitlements on a short helicopter ride to a Liberal party fundraiser, we can’t be sure just what those conditions are.

That’s because so far, Abbott has refused to outline just what his version of probation actually means. And that’s despite labelling Bishop’s travel expenses a, “serious error of judgement”.

Instead, he’s simply put her on an ambiguous probationary period that has us guessing about the rules. As he said yesterday: “She does have my confidence but like everyone who has done something like this, inevitably for a period of time they’re on probation.”

A cynical person may suggest this has been done in the hope that the media and the general public will move on to other things by the time Parliament resumes in August.

What we do know is that probation in the new employee sense can not be applied to Bishop. She’s one of our most experienced parliamentarians, having been in politics more than 28 years. If there’s someone who should understand our current system of travel entitlements, it’s Bishop. Indeed, Abbott noted Bishop’s, “long and distinguished history as a servant of our country” and that she has learned a “salutary lesson”.

I’m not impressed with how Bishop has handled these revelations. While she has repaid the fee that was spent on the short trip between Melbourne and Geelong, she’s refused to acknowledge she may have broken entitlement rules, and even dismissed the whole saga as a “beat up”. Her response has been unapologetic, and even arrogant, almost suggesting she’s out of touch with why the Australian public might want an explanation for footing the bill of an extravagant trip in the first place.

However, if she’s to be placed on ‘probation’ it’s only fair that she should know just what the prime minister, and the Australian public, expects from her. An opportunity for redemption, perhaps? An opportunity to change her image to win back the support of her own electorate? To improve her legacy as something other than a speaker who’s failed to rise above party politics, who takes delight in evicting opposition MPs during Question Time? A chance to get back in touch with how the general public works, lives and spends?

It seems Bishop won’t be given those opportunities, nor will the public be given much reassurance that the Abbott government takes travel rorts seriously.

Abbott’s hoping this one will all blow over — which it very well could. But while it’s true the voting public may have a short attention span, it does have a very long memory. This one could be up for Bishop’s own electorate to decide at the next Federal election.

×

Stay Smart! Get Savvy!

Get Women’s Agenda in your inbox