The first month anniversary of the Abbott government's election on a ''no surprises, no excuses'' platform passed on Monday. The Coalition has certainly delivered on the ''no surprises'' part when it comes to meeting voters' low expectations of MPs' use of taxpayer-funded expenses. There have been few surprises, either, in the government's avoidance of scrutiny and its rewrite of asylum seeker policy.

To his credit, Prime Minister Tony Abbott has tweaked his approach to Indonesia and begun a positive relationship with China. But his treatment of his expenses and those of colleagues goes to the heart of why voters distrust politicians.

One month on: Prime Minister Tony Abbott. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Abbott has admitted he claimed expenses to attend the wedding of then Howard government MP Sophie Mirabella in 2006. And in a delicious irony, he also claimed to attend the nuptials of former Liberal turned independent Peter Slipper.

When in opposition the Coalition hounded Slipper, who was denied the same self-serving repayment rort that has allowed Abbott and his ministers to reconcile their recklessness scot-free.