Too much time on Bishop chopper: Hockey

Treasurer Joe Hockey believes the issue over Bronwyn Bishop hiring a helicopter to attend a Liberal party fundraiser is "sucking up too much oxygen" of the nation's time.

Mr Hockey was the first minister to suggest that paying $5000 of taxpayers' money for the helicopter ride "failed the sniff test", but he says the Speaker now recognises she made an error of judgment, has paid the money and is co-operating with the Department of Finance.

"This has sucked up too much oxygen for the nation over the last few days. We need to get on with the issues that matter to people ... such as job security, economic security and national security," he told Network Ten.