FEDERAL speaker Bronwyn Bishop will repay the costs of her $5000 taxpayer-funded helicopter flight between Melbourne and Geelong.

Ms Bishop said she would reimburse the costs, but insists the travel was conducted within the rules.

“I have today written to the Special Minister of State indicating I will reimburse the

Department of Finance the costs associated with the use of my charter allowance on 5

November 2014,” she said in a statement.

“Whilst my understanding is that this travel was conducted within the rules, to avoid any

doubt, I will reimburse the full costs.”

Treasurer Joe Hockey said earlier today Ms Bishop’s taxpayer-funded helicopter flight between Melbourne and Geelong for a Liberal Party event was “not a good look”.

“The Speaker needs to explain the matter,” Mr Hockey told Sydney radio station 2UE today.

Mr Hockey was asked is the trip passed the “sniff test”, to which he replied: “Instinctively, it doesn’t.

“It’s not a good look. I think the Speaker needs to explain the matter. I think she’s already put out a statement on some of the allegations made.”

The Treasurer admitted he understood why the public did not approve of the trip.

“The court of the people will make a decision,” he said.

Ms Bishop yesterday claimed she took the chartered flight because of her “concern for the country” after photos emerged of her landing at the Clifton Springs Golf Club near Geelong.

The Herald Sun understands Ms Bishop attended a fundraising event for state Liberal candidate Ron Nelson, who unsuccessfully contested the seat of Bellarine.

Mr Nelson, a councillor in Geelong, held his election night party at the same golf club three weeks later. He did not return calls from the ­Herald Sun.

The latest details about the trip emerged after the Herald Sun revealed that Ms Bishop charged taxpayers $5227 for the private return flight from Melbourne to Geelong in November, despite the 100km trip only taking about one hour to drive.

Sky News reports Labor leader Bill Shorten called on Prime Minister Tony Abbott to speak on the case and explain if he believed it was an appropriate use of entitlements.

“She (Ms Bishop) thinks she is too important to drive down the Geelong road like hundreds of thousands of other Australians,” he said in Melbourne today.

The Hon. Bronwyn Bishop MP, ade a spectacular arrival at Clifton Springs Golf Club on Wednesday November 5th. pic.twitter.com/t5Nqv53HKx — Neil Remeeus (@NeilRemeeus) November 6, 2014

As a presiding officer Ms Bishop may use chartered transport, including an aeroplane or helicopter, for “office holder duties” only.

On Wednesday night Ms Bishop’s spokesman, Damien Jones, said the charter service was “in accordance with the guidelines and within entitlement”.

“The Speaker had a number of meetings during her visit to Victoria and always seeks to fit in as many meetings and events into her schedule as is possible,” Mr Jones said.

“It (is) because of her concern for the country, she works as hard as she can and wishes she could do even more.”

Labor has written to Ms Bishop seeking an explanation and called on Prime Minister Tony Abbott to justify the Speaker’s expense.

“Ms Bishop was Tony ­Abbott’s personal appointment — she was his captain’s pick,” said Pat Conroy, chair of Labor’s “waste watch” committee.

“Mr Abbott needs to explain if he thinks this is an appropriate use of taxpayers’ money.”

Bishop's big spend

Details of the trip were ­released by the Department of Finance last month as part of a six-month audit into expenses clocked up by serving and ­former federal politicians.

The report also revealed that taxpayers forked out ­almost $90,000 for a two-week European trip Ms Bishop took last year, partly aimed at securing the top job at the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

She failed in her bid for the Geneva-based job, which went to a Bangladeshi representative.

In total the Speaker spent $130,889.80 on official travel in the second half of last year.

annika.smethurst@news.com.au