Bowen quips at Bronwyn Bishop's expense

Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen has quipped that "Bronwyn's arriving" when a helicopter landed outside the ALP national conference.

Mr Bowen became distracted by a helicopter landing outside the room while he was addressing a side event at the Melbourne conference on Saturday.

"Bronwyn's arriving," he said, to applause.

Former Labor minister Craig Emerson declared he had already put it on Twitter before someone in the audience added "it's not big enough".

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has said Ms Bishop is "on probation" after a storm of criticism over her $5000 taxpayer-funded helicopter flight.