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A former flight attendant has revealed an encounter with Speaker Bronwyn Bishop. Source: News Corp Australia
A FORMER Qantas flight attendant has recalled Bronwyn Bishop acting like a “spoilt brat†after she was told she couldn’t get her favourite seat on a plane.
Clayton Long remembers the incident well. The flight from Perth to Sydney, which took place about 15 years ago, was delayed for about half an hour after the Speaker of the House of Representatives reportedly objected to her seating arrangements.
“It was because she (Ms Bishop) didn’t get the seat that she prefers. She likes the front row of business class,†Mr Long told Fairfax.
“But business class was full with the exception of two seats. She was given the seat with no one next to her but she still wasn’t happy.â€
Ms Bishop eventually agreed to get on the plane but made her displeasure very clear to the flight staff, despite their attempts to provide the best possible service.
“She wouldn’t take anything. she was like a spoilt child,†he said. “I just thought it was incredible. She’s paid by the Australian taxpayer. To even get into her mind that she’s entitled to a particular seat just floors me.â€
Ms Bishop’s spokesman has reportedly denied the story saying, “we take whatever seats we’re givenâ€.
The anecdote comes after a difficult few weeks for Ms Bishop, who has been under fire for taking a $5000 taxpayer-funded helicopter flight from Melbourne to Geelong.
This week she was also accused for using taxpayers money to attend former Liberal MP Sophie Mirabella’s wedding, calling the trip official business.
Soon after the coalition was elected in 2003, numerous ministers, including Tony Abbott, were forced to pay back taxpayer money they claimed to travel to weddings — including that of Ms Mirabella.
Senator George Brandis, Scott Morrison, Barnaby Joyce and Mr Abbott paid back the money, but Ms Bishop failed to follow followed suit, Fairfax newspapers reported on Friday.
The reports say an expense document written by Ms Bishop lists only “committee chair business†when asked the purpose of the $600 flights, which took her to three cities, including Albury, from where she travelled to the Wangaratta wedding.
A spokesman for Ms Bishop confirmed she was on official business when in Albury, but refused to answer questions about what that business was or whether she had any official engagements during the trip, Fairfax says.