Australian lawmakers elect new speaker after expense scandal

Australian lawmakers elect new speaker after expense scandal

PanARMENIAN.Net - Australian government lawmakers on Monday, Aug 10, elected a new speaker of the House of Representatives after the previous speaker resigned over an expense scandal that has damaged Prime Minister Tony Abbott's conservative government, the Associated Press reports.

The new speaker Tony Smith defeated his nearest challenger Andrew Southcott in a ballot of ruling Liberal Party lawmakers 51 votes to 22. His selection was later formally endorsed by the House of Representatives, where the government holds a clear majority.

Smith’s predecessor Bronwyn Bishop was regarded as one of the most blatantly partisan speakers to preside over the House of Representatives in its 114-year history. Since she first took the chair in November 2013, she has expelled opposition lawmakers on 393 occasions for misbehavior and government lawmakers on seven occasions. Despite her relatively short tenure, no speaker has expelled more lawmakers.

Bishop, 72, was the choice of Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who once described himself as the "ideological love child" of Bishop and John Howard, the second-longest serving prime minister in Australian history and the last conservative prime minister before Abbott.

Bishop had a long history for making excessive or questionable travel expense claims. She resigned last week in the face of fierce criticism after it emerged that she spent more than AU$5,000 ($3,700) to charter a helicopter for an 80-kilometer (50-mile) trip to a golf course to attend a fundraiser for the ruling party, rather than drive the 90-minute route.

Bishop apologized for what she called the "ridiculous" expense and repaid the money. But scrutiny over her other travel expenses continued, including claims that she charged taxpayers for travel costs associated with trips to attend weddings. She said she would repay those expenses as well.

The Finance Department is investigating whether she violated any rules.

Abbott said there would be a review of lawmaker entitlements in the wake of the scandal.

 Top stories
Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive.
In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million).
The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot".
The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads.
Partner news
---