Bronwyn Bishop's political career may be in its death throes but her steely gaze will live on forever in the halls of Parliament House.

Taxpayers will be charged at least $30,000 to commission an artist to immortalise Mrs Bishop in an official portrait.

Despite resigning from the Speaker's chair in disgrace for using $5227 of taxpayers' cash to charter a chopper to attend a party fundraiser, Mrs Bishop is still entitled to the senior office holder painting.

She has now begun "preliminary conversations" with the Department of Parliamentary Services to decide on an artist.

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"The standard fee for a portrait commission is $30,000," a department spokesperson said. "An additional sum of $2000 can be made available, if required, to assist the artist with framing costs."

Mrs Bishop, who did not respond to a request for comment, is tipped to lose pre-selection for her blue-ribbon Sydney seat of Mackellar next month.

It's understood her supporters have abandoned her in the wake of the chopper affair and her decision to vote against Tony Abbott in last year's leadership ballot. Aged care businessman Jason Falinski is considered frontrunner to replace her.

Secret polling conducted by MediaReach shows 69 per cent of Mackellar voters want her to retire. And if she did run, she would be trounced by businessman Dick Smith, who may run as an independent.

The portrait of another controversial former Speaker – Liberal turncoat Peter Slipper – could soon be on display.

Acclaimed artist Paul Newton has delivered his likeness of the controversial former MP, who spent just 19 days in the Speaker's chair before standing aside and eventually resigning over the James Ashby affair in 2012.

Parliament's Historic Memorials Committee has formally approved the painting – also costing $30,000 – and it's now being prepared and framed.

"A future date for the installation and unveiling of the portrait will be negotiated in consultation with Mr Slipper. No images of the portrait will be made available in advance of the official unveiling," the department said.

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