“Understandably, the Australian people are unhappy that a senior representative in the Parliament should think that it was all right to use a helicopter to get around, when a Commonwealth car would have been available at a fraction of the price,” Mr Abbott said.

What is less understandable is why Mr Abbott is so forgiving of such a stunt, given the helicopter was not used in the pursuit of Ms Bishop’s duties, but to attend a Liberal Party fundraiser.

Ms Bishop is under further investigation regarding flights to Nowra and Young, but a decision should already have been made to send her back to the ground the rest of us must walk on, if she did not have the grace to resign.

Anyone on the public purse is free to jump in a helicopter whenever they so choose – if they are prepared to pay for it.

If Ms Bishop chose to arrive in style and footed the bill herself, no-one could complain.

To most voters, the decision to then, down the track, charge that trip to the public purse is repugnant.

No overhaul of the travel guidelines would ever make Ms Bishop’s actions appear anything other than outrageous.

Accepting tax payers’ money as wages and allowances carries enormous responsibilities.

Elected representatives have to be seen to be above reproach.

Before the ALP gets too comfortable, the stench of corruption still hovers.

The Craig Thomson debacle was allowed to  fester and swift action should have been taken.

The ALP allowed branch stacking and nepotism to rule so many of its branches, that it became a machine.

The result was Eddie Obeid et al and a constituency so disgusted by the rot, voters turned from the party in droves.

A leader’s role is to place the public’s need for good governance above all factional and political considerations.

Only then do they have a chance of keeping the public’s trust.

Mr Abbott would do well to study the fortunes of the ALP in NSW.