Turnbull tweets chopper-free Geelong trip

As Bronwyn Bishop fends off criticism of a helicopter charter, cabinet colleague Malcolm Turnbull has made the same trip by tram and train.

Supplied image of Federal Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull at South Geelong station with MP Sarah Henderson. (Twitter)

Supplied image of Federal Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull at South Geelong station with MP Sarah Henderson. (Twitter) Source: Twitter

Malcolm Turnbull has chosen a $12 tram and train ride over a $5000 chopper to travel from Melbourne to Geelong.

The federal communications minister tweeted his trip on Wednesday as debate continued to rage about whether Speaker Bronwyn Bishop should be sacked over her chartering of a luxury helicopter for a similar journey in November 2014.

"Now on the 109 on Collins St to Sth Cross (sic) to get the train to Geelong to visit @SHendersonMP," Mr Turnbull tweeted, referring to Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson.

"A conductor checked my myki (electronic ticket) to confirm I had tapped on. So flattered he thought I was fit enough to have been able to leap over the barrier."

The minister then tweeted a photograph when he arrived at South Geelong station on the train.

"Going to Torquay to inspect the NBN rollout," he wrote.

Ironically, Ms Henderson attended the same 2014 Liberal party fundraiser which has landed Mrs Bishop in hotwater.

Mr Turnbull's trip attracted a flurry of tweets, describing him as "cheeky" and "shameless".

"Bronnie must have booked the Geelong helicopter out again," wrote one Melbourne tweeter.


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world