$12,313 to charter a plane to take him to the Birdsville Races?? $9347 to get to the Tamworth Music Festival?? 

$5622 to go see some cars rolling around the track ay Bathrurst??  

Perhaps if you are the PM, these expenses would be acceptable. But no way is it acceptable for a member that isn't in government.

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/mps-trip-up-on-travel-claims-as-labors-attack-...

And this is just ridiculous: Asked about these claims, Mr Abbott's office responded with a list of Labor politicians using Commonwealth cars and planes to attend sporting events.

So no humble contrition? No embarressed excuses? Just petulant deflection?

Seriously what he should do now is take action to try and salvage this. Come out and say he will legislate against this kind of spending in the future cause he realises it isn't acceptable to the people of Australia.

But instead I suspect he will lay low hoping it will all blow over or defends his expenses.