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Tony Abbott has said he understands voter anger over politicians' use of taxpayer-funded entitlements, saying he himself had flown economy to Europe with his family, as "that's what the people do".
The Prime Minister's comments came as he defended Bronwyn Bishop over her decision to stay in the role of Speaker, saying she is a "very chastened person".
His support for the embattled Speaker came as a Labor MP revealed plans to present Mrs Bishop with a personalised toy helicopter on the floor of the Chamber of Parliament.
Despite initially refusing to apologise, Mrs Bishop, who has been under weeks of relentless pressure, finally said sorry on Thursday for chartering a $5000 helicopter to travel 100km from Melbourne to Geelong to attend a Liberal party fundraiser.
Labor says the apology was insincere and only made to save the Speaker's job and says her position remains untenable.
But on Friday, Mr Abbott insisted the Speaker was truly sorry.
"She is obviously deeply remorseful, anyone who saw her on television yesterday would know that she is a very, very chastened person indeed," he said.
The Prime Minister said the Speaker had already agreed to repay all travel claimed for attending Liberal friends' weddings but the opposition still wants her resignation.
Mr Abbott stressed the ways his government has already cracked down on parliamentarians' entitlements and cited his own decision to travel like "the people" to Europe.
"I took the family overseas at Christmas in 2013 and we certainly made the very long trip to Europe in economy class, but you know, that's what the people do and that's what we certainly did when we were travelling privately," he said.
Mr Abbott said one lesson every politician should learn from the latest entitlements controversy is that "you cannot get away with exploiting the rules".
"A lot has happened and let's see what else might emerge out of the review that is going on now," he said.
Labor is likely to move a no-confidence motion in the week Parliament resumes on the 10 August. Backbencher Michael Danby tweeted his plans to present the Speaker with her own "Bronnycopter".
"I'll present her with this personalised helicopter if she's still there in the chair when Parliament resumes," Mr Danby told Fairfax Media.
Captured Bronnie's helicopter. Will present to her as momento if still Spkr when Parl resumes #choppergate #auspol pic.twitter.com/AFLwqKMt0o— Michael Danby MP (@MichaelDanbyMP)
July 30, 2015
The Department of Finance is reviewing a decade's worth of Mrs Bishop's entitlement claims but under the Minchin protocol will give her the private opportunity to repay any examples of misuse without the public's knowledge.
