Retired MPs still getting 10 free flights a year despite PM Tony Abbott’s promise to scrap gold pass travel scheme

RETIRED MPs are still flying high on free flights around Australia more than a year after PM Tony Abbott promised in his first Budget that the gold pass travel scheme was “finished, kaput, dead”.

RETIRED MPs are still flying high on free flights around Australia more than a year after Prime Minister Tony Abbott promised in his first Budget that the gold pass travel scheme was “finished, kaput, dead”.

Legislation to scrap the 10 free flights a year for retired MPs has ­failed to pass the Senate with the government now poised to refer the stalled plan to a “root and branch’’ review of ­entitlements.

Retired MPs are also shaping up for a High Court challenge with a writ lodged last month.

According to Department of ­Finance records, former Speaker Peter Slipper enjoyed $8557.16 in free flights under the scheme in the second half of 2014.

Former Gillard government minister Nicola Roxon charged taxpayers $6860.82 over the same six months. Former Nationals MP Ron Boswell claimed $6597.13.

Axing the scheme would save an estimated $1 million a year.

The delay to axe the scheme could allow departing Speaker Bronwyn Bishop to retire with an entitlement to 10 free domestic return flights a year if she quits politics, and a lifetime pension of over $250,000 a year.

Mr Abbott’s ban on travel perks for retired MPs also faces a High Court challenge, with a group of octogenarian MPs including Wilson “Iron Bar’’ Tuckey, former Howard government minister John Moore, former Hawke government minister Barry Cunningham and former Labor MP Tony Lamb leading the charge.

West Australian maverick Liberal Wilson Tuckey is part of a group of MPs who are fighting the changes in the High Court.

Four MPs, Mr Cunningham, Mr Lamb, Mr Cohen and former Queensland Liberal MP Mr Moore are named on the High Court writ.

The retired MPs have established a fighting fund to target the “unconscionable” decision to clip their wings.

The Sunday Telegraph understands retired MPs wrote to former Special Minister of State Gary Gray — but were rebuffed — in an attempt to secure taxpayer funding for their High Court challenge.

Mr Gray swiftly refused their request.

Announcing the decision to axe the scheme in 2014, the Prime Minister said that politicians needed to pitch in to reduce the budget deficit.

“I don’t want people to say ‘Oh those blokes in Canberra are making me suffer while they get off scot free’,” Mr Abbott said.

“So there will be a deficit levy on high income earners, The lifetime gold [travel] pass for politicians gone — finished. Kaput. Dead — finally.’’

But correspondence obtained by The Sunday Telegraph under freedom of information laws confirms that the current Special Minister of State Michael Ronaldson and the Remuneration Tribunal have discussed the need for legislation to guard against legal challenge by former MPs.

In November, 2014, the Tribunal President John Conde warned the Abbott Government that further changes as proposed “may be problematic.’’

“We are currently seeking advice on whether there are implications for the Tribunal under ... section 51 (xxxi) of the Constitution (acquisition of property on just terms) given the entitlement for travel has already been established,’’ Mr Conde wrote.

“We are concerned that if our powers are limited on this matter an anomaly may be created if the Government’s Bill passes the Parliament as currently drafted. That is, any retired parliamentarian with severance travel benefits might have a significantly greater travel entitlement (up to 25 return trips per annum) than a former Parliamentarian with a Life Gold Pass.’’

The Gold Life Pass is only currently available to MPs who entered Parliament before March 2012, when Julia Gillard closed the scheme.

Retired MPs once enjoyed unlimited business class travel but that stipend was reduced to 10 domestic return trips with a family member a year.