Bronwyn Bishop says Niki Savva’s version of the Choppergate scandal is ‘basically true’

A WAR of words has erupted between Bronwyn Bishop and Tony Abbott over her claim he stopped her publicly apologising about Choppergate scandal.

Job ID PD480630. The Prime Minister Tony Abbott with Opposition Leader Bill Shorten during the 800th anniversary celebrations of the Magna Carta in Parliament House. Hosted by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon Bronwyn Bishop MP, and the President of the Senate, Senator the Hon Stephen Parry Pic by Gary Ramage

A WAR of words has erupted between one-time allies Bronwyn Bishop and Tony Abbott over her claim the former PM stopped her publicly apologising about the Choppergate scandal.

The Mackellar MP appeared to confirm to the Manly Daily that she wanted to publicly say sorry as the scandal over her use of a taxpayer-funded helicopter engulfed the government.

But Mr Abbott persuaded her not too, substantiating claims in journalist Niki Savva’s explosive book Road to Ruin: How Tony Abbott and Peta Credlin Destroyed Their Own Government.

Yesterday in Clareville, the embattled former Speaker confirmed the story as “basically true”.

She said: “It’s best to leave those things for people to draw their own conclusions about but the way it’s been reported is basically true”.

Bronwyn Bishop landing in a helicopter at Geelong. Taxpayers were billed $5,227 for the 80km round-trip

But Mr Abbott fired back with a denial of this account.

A spokesman for the Warringah MP said: “Mr Abbott told her on the day the story broke that she had to apologise and repay the money.”

The day after the Choppergate story broke on July 15, 2015, Ms Bishop released a statement saying she would pay back the money and a 25 per cent penalty.

She claimed $5227.27 in expenses for chartering the helicopter to fly 80km to attend a Liberal Party fundraiser in Geelong.

Mackellar MP Bronwyn Bishop at Clareville yesterday.

The book said: “According to sources, Bishop was apparently keen to go out quickly, publicly, to try to kill off the story.”

But Mr Abbott’s office told her to “hold your fire”. “Bishop should not say ‘sorry’ because it could be construed as an admission of wrongdoing,” the book claimed.

In the end, it took until July 30 for Ms Bishop to express remorse.

Ms Bishop’s corroboration of Ms Savva’s version throws a possible light on her resignation as Speaker of the House under pressure from all quarters.

It also raises questions about her backing of Malcolm Turnbull in the leadership spill, which saw him take the prime ministership from Mr Abbott.

If true, it undermines allegations Ms Bishop “betrayed” Mr Abbott.

Mackellar MP Bronwyn Bishop and Pittwater councillor Kylie Fergusen.

Ms Bishop also said yesterday she was confident of winning preselection for Mackellar.

She added that, like all candidates, she would not know the preselection winner until it was announced by the Liberal Party.

Ms Bishop was speaking at Clareville as she announced grants of more than $38,000 for two local community-driven projects.

This includes the Pittwater YHA’s Morning Bay Bush Regeneration event and the project to rehabilitate bushland at Bantry Bay and Upper Middle Harbour.