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Internet skewers Bronwyn Bishop over #choppergate scandal

WHAT would you do with fat wads of taxpayer money and a chopper at your disposal? The inteweb has let its collective imagination run wild.

SHERINE CONYERS and WIRES
less than 2 min read
July 20, 2015 - 7:58PM
Copping a grilling on social media: Speaker Bronwyn Bishop over her use of taxpayer money on helicopters. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas
Copping a grilling on social media: Speaker Bronwyn Bishop over her use of taxpayer money on helicopters. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

THERE’S a lot you can do with a chopper at your expense. And the internet has let its collective imagination run wild after news Bronwyn Bishop spent a bundle of taxpayer dollars on luxury helicopter flights.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has put the Speaker on notice, potentially paving the way for her removal if an investigation into her travel claims finds against her.

The furore erupted after the finance department decided to investigate claims Mrs Bishop took a helicopter ride from Melbourne to a Liberal Party fundraiser in Geelong, as well as two more recent charter flights to the NSW regional towns of Young and Nowra.

The Speaker already has repaid $5227 and a 25 per cent penalty for the Geelong charter.

As Ms Bishop faces public pressure to stand down following the investigation, Twitter lit up with helicopter fantasies of what the lifestyle of a Parliamentary Speaker with taxpayer money at her fingertips and choppers on call could entail.

Quite simply: the inteweb opened a can of whoopass on Bishop’s backside.

From walking the dog to watering the garden, or humbly taking the bus, here’s the best of them.

Mr Abbott said the Speaker got hit with “a justifiable hiding” over a 100km helicopter flight and will learn a “very salutary lesson”.

“She has certainly copped a justifiable hiding over the last few days,” Mr Abbott told reporters in Sydney as Labor stepped up calls for her head.

He played down criticism Mrs Bishop had not apologised for making the Geelong claim, referring to a couple of long conversations the pair have had over the controversy.

“Bronwyn is, I think, very, very contrite about this,” Mr Abbott said.

Labor leader Bill Shorten said the Prime Minister needed to show courage and tell Mrs Bishop it was time to go.

If Mrs Bishop hasn’t copped enough of a whipping from her boss and the opposition, she’s certainly copping a wave of social justice from the twitterati online.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/internets-skewers-bronwyn-bishop-over-choppergate-scandal/news-story/935515944308b934a9672ff77ed004e4