why???

This is all Allegedly. 

Because slipper asked a person to wilfully help him commit a fraud. It was not because he felt his claim was justified... it was a way to help cover up his fraud. 

He asked a man to charge one trip around wineries as four different trips around suburbs (no location) of Canberra. 

As for those events that Tony Abbott claimed for. The question I ask is would this event be done even though he was not in the political position he was in? Chances are no... if he were just Joe Bloggs he would probably not travel to these locations and do what he did. 

If you have even experienced an event like one that a pollie attends in the capacity of a visiting MP then you would understand. To have a politician attend one of your events is a huge deal for any organiser. These are big names that draw other entrants. It usually means more turnover for your charity event. It also means more people come out and see the person participating. 

Along with the adulation politicians get they also get a lot of abuse along the way... they do not just do things because they enjoy them.. they do them as part of their jobs. 

Labor MP's claim to visit Union meetings and Union get togethers and people seem to think that that is all ok. The difference is that they seem to have an obvious tie yet in reality they are just back slapping to get the particular union on side to help keep them in power. In comparison the Coalition MP's visit everone else that is not in a union at the functions that they go to. 

If Tony cant visit a charity event and claim then Shorten can't visit union delegations and claim.