Choppergate scandal prompts sweeping changes to parliamentary expenses system

POLITICIANS will now need a mighty good reason to hire a helicopter like Bronwyn Bishop did, with new sweeping changes announced to parliamentary perks.

THE age of entitlement for Australia’s politicians is indeed over, with the Federal Government announcing it will make sweeping changes to the parliamentary entitlements system.

Parliamentarians will be banned from taking helicopter rides for short distances, unless there is a “compelling reason” to do so, as part of the changes recommended by an independent review into the entitlements system.

The review was sparked by a Herald Sun report which revealed thenSpeaker Bronwyn Bishop spent $5227 of taxpayers’ money to charter a helicopter from Melbourne to Geelong.

Bronwyn Bishop’s Choppergate scandal has led to sweeping changes to politicians’ entitlements. Picture: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Ms Bishop, who used the helicopter to attend a Liberal fundraising event, paid back the money and was forced to step down as Speaker.

As part of the changes, parliamentarians will also be given “guidance and training” in the use of charter vehicles.

Other changes recommended by the review include:

— Banning parliamentarians from using cars and drivers for travel that is “primarily personal”

— Tightening up family reunion travel rules, including replacing business class travel with economy

— Reducing post-retirement travel entitlements from five trips in six months to three economy class trips in three months

— Abolishing the additional $10 per night travel allowance given to politicians when their spouse travels with them

— Renaming the scheme “work expenses” instead of “entitlements” or “benefits”

— Require minor office refurbishments and maintenance to be subject to a tender process

— Reports on entitlements should be published quarterly and after information technology changes, increased to monthly reporting

Special Minister of State Mathias Cormann said the government supported the recommendations of the review “in principle” and would start implementing them.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann says the recommendations will be implemented. Picture: Mick Tsikas/AAP

“Implementation of a number of recommendations will involve further work by the Remuneration Tribunal, which the Government will ask the Tribunal to commence forthwith,” he said in a statement.

The report states: “There are many issues with the current system, including instances of inconsistency and ambiguity, duplication, overlap, redundancy, entitlements that are split between multiple heads of authority and a general lack of transparency about the framework.

“These issues contribute to the inadvertent, perceived or deliberate misuse of work expenses, adversely affecting the careers and damaging reputations of individual parliamentarians and the standing of the institution of parliament.”