GG 42/12
28 June 2012
The Government today tabled three reports outlining Parliamentarians’ entitlements expenditure from July 1 to December 31, 2011.
The reports include current and former Parliamentarians' expenditure on entitlements met by the Department of Finance and Deregulation as well as MPs’ overseas study travel reports.
“This is the fifth time that expenditure, other than travelling allowances and travel expenses, has been tabled in the Parliament,” Special Minister of State Gary Gray said today.
Mr Gray said major reforms announced in December last year came into effect on March 6. These included the abolition of the Life Gold Pass for anyone entering Parliament on or after March 6. This means that to date, four new MPs will not qualify.
So-called severance travel had also been slashed with the number of trips reduced from 25 trips per year for up to five years to just five return trips in the six-month period after they leave Parliament. This change has so far affected two MPs.
Overseas study travel also has prospectively axed, so that MPs cannot accrue any additional travel entitlement after March 6. However, MPs’ existing entitlement to overseas travel will be honoured in this Parliament and the next.
“Since coming to office we have moved to put in place clear rules to improve the transparency of the parliamentary entitlements framework.
“The tabling of these reports reaffirms the Government’s continued commitment to enhance accountability and transparency.”
The tabling reports include details of:
The reports and supporting information are publicly available online at www.finance.gov.au [
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