Treasurer Joe Hockey said it was "not a good look" and that it did not pass the "sniff test", while Social Services Minister Scott Morrison would not back the Speaker's use of expenses.

Speaker Bronwyn Bishop. Credit:Andrew Meares

Mrs Bishop has promised to pay back the $5227 cost of hiring the helicopter but has not admitted any wrongdoing. She said she believed the travel was within the rules but she was giving a refund to "avoid any doubt".

Mr Burke called for the release of a form – the so-called "Presiding Officers form" - that Mrs Bishop would normally have to have signed before taking a charter flight.

"It depends on whether or not she signs it [the form] in its normal form. The normal form would say this is official business and would also say there are serious criminal penalties if this is put in error," he told the Seven Network.