Former Speaker confirms account in Niki Savva’s new book, Road to Ruin, that she wanted to apologise but was told to hold off by prime minister’s office

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

The former Speaker Bronwyn Bishop has endorsed a new book’s account that she immediately sought to apologise for the “Choppergate” scandal but was overruled by Tony Abbott’s office.

Revelations Bishop had claimed taxpayer allowances for a $5,000 chartered helicopter trip to a Liberal party function in late 2014 became a major distraction for the Abbott government that dragged on for a fortnight until the Speaker resigned in late July.

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In her book Road to Ruin, an account of Abbott’s demise as prime minister, journalist Niki Savva wrote that Bishop had wanted to apologise early and defuse the issue.

She had “wanted to go out there very quickly, lay it all on the line and give what would be in effect a grovelling apology for what had happened”, Savva said last week.

“But she was advised by the prime minister’s office to hold off … not to say she was sorry because that would imply guilt and they were fearful of a domino effect.”

Bishop told the Manly Daily on Thursday that Savva’s account was “basically true”.

“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,” she said.

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But a spokesman for Abbott has told the Daily Telegraph Bishop’s account was not accurate. “Mr Abbott told her on the day the story broke that she had to apologise and repay the money,” a spokesman said.

The day the story broke Bishop released a statement saying she would pay back the money and a 25% penalty but did not apologise.

The Mackellar MP, a longtime Abbott ally, abandoned him in September by voting for Malcolm Turnbull when he launched his successful leadership challenge. It was unclear at the time what had prompted the shift in loyalties.