Mr Gibbs confirmed the relationship when confronted by Fairfax Media on Friday. Speaker Bronwyn Bishop must produce the documents claiming the chopper excursion expenses. Credit:Andrew Meares "I do know Damien, what's that got to do with anything?" Mr Gibbs said. "We were staffers together. I know a lot of guys at Parliament, I was a staffer there myself." Mr Gibbs said the pair first met in or around the year 2000. Asked if he was Mr Jones' best man, Mr Gibbs said: "Yeah, what's the relevance of all this?"

Mrs Bishop on Thursday caved to political and public pressure and repaid the $5227 cost of the charter. She also paid a $1300 loading as penalty. Bronwyn Bishop's former chief of staff Damien Jones. But the relationship between Mr Gibbs and Mr Jones raises new questions about the charter, which Mrs Bishop used to make a grand entrance at a Liberal Party function in November last year. Fairfax Media is not suggesting any improper conduct by Mr Gibbs or Mr Jones. Lobbyist Andrew Gibbs. Credit:LinkedIn

Sources have told Fairfax Media that Mr Gibbs' quote was the most expensive of three obtained by Mrs Bishop's office. But Mr Gibbs says that is not the case. "They have to get three quotes and they have to take the cheapest quote," he said. "There's no opportunity for untoward behaviour because the Department of Finance keeps a very close eye on it." Mr Gibbs said there was "nothing untoward or cozy" about his relationship with Mrs Bishop's office and Mr Jones. Fairfax Media has asked Mr Jones, through Mrs Bishop's office, for details of the three quotes requested. Reports have said that MyJet is typically among the most expensive options on the market in Melbourne.

MyJet doesn't actually operate any helicopters itself, so it sub-contracted one from fellow charter company Air Melbourne. Air Melbourne's website notes their twin-engine Augusta helicopters "seat up to seven passengers and reach speeds of up to 311km per hour, making our helicopters the quickest, easiest and most luxurious way to travel". That type of chopper usually costs about $3000 to $4000 an hour to hire, industry sources have told Fairfax Media..



That is about the same hourly cost as a mid-sized corporate jet capable of carrying about 10 people in business-class seating.



In comparison, a single-engine Robinson R44 costs about $1200 an hour. In general, a single-engine chopper can only fly during the day. Mr Gibbs operates as a political lobbyist under the business name Primary Policy Partners. The government's official Lobbyist Register confirms Mr Gibbs is a former Howard government staffer who left government employ in January 2001.

He lists five companies on his client details list, including MyJet Aviation. It also lists Elliott Holdings Australia T/A Ellwaste, Chris Richards Group, Cohuna Aviation Club and HTT CORPORATION. Mr Jones has also been approached for comment but has not yet responded. His job title is listed on various parliamentary documents as Mrs Bishop's chief of staff. He also serves as her spokesman. The Greens have called for a full, independent investigation following the latest revelations. "The more details revealed about this absolutely extraordinary episode the more apparent it becomes that something fishy is going on," said Greens senator Lee Rhiannon.

Labor on Friday said there was "no way" Mrs Bishop can remain as Speaker if she signed a form claiming the helicopter flight was for official business.



In a call that escalates pressure on the under-fire Speaker, Labor's finance spokesman, Tony Burke, suggested Mrs Bishop may need to resign. Mrs Bishop was listed as an expected guest at a public memorial at Parliament House on Friday to mark the one-year anniversary of the MH17 disaster but does not appear to have attended. - With Matthew O'Sullivan and Fergus Hunter Follow us on Twitter