Mrs Bishop resigned at the weekend, following more than two weeks of sustained pressure sparked by revelations she hired a $5000 private helicopter to fly from Melbourne to Geelong last year. 

Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced the resignation on Sunday, a day after it was revealed Mrs Bishop also spent $6000 on a luxury corporate aircraft for a 160km journey from Sydney to Nowra.

The South Coast visit was hosted by Gilmore MP Ann Sudmalis, who described the furore surrounding the trip as petty.

‘‘I’m sure she’s not the first parliamentarian who’s made the mistake...and clearly she’s not the last,’’ Mrs Sudmalis said.

‘‘There are so many other issues [to be concerned about]. We’ve got a homeless forum [this week] and I’ve got people coming into my office who can barely put food on the table – these are the issues that should be preoccupying us.’’

Throsby MP Stephen Jones said he wasn’t surprised when Mrs Bishop’s grandiose use of taxpayer-funded travel ‘‘blew up’’.

‘‘Having watched Bronwyn over many years, she had been addicted to the majesty of her role and seemed at times, to me, unable to see how her actions are perceived by the people she represents,’’ Mr Jones said.

‘‘I think her abuse of her entitlements is a poor reflection on the entire Parliament.’’

The Labor MP said Mrs Bishop should have stepped down earlier. 

‘‘In her own words, the helicopter flight was an atrocious lack of judgment; this is supposed to be the person who enforces the standards,’’ he said.

‘‘It didn’t come in isolation, there’s been a whole series of things which I think have shown that she is not a fit person for the role of Speaker’’.

Mrs Bishop cited her ‘‘love and respect for the institution of the Parliament and the Australian people’’ as the reason for her resignation.