State politicians have been quietly handed what amounts to a $6750 a year pay rise thanks to a previously unreported change to their travel entitlements.

The independent Salaries and Allowances Tribunal, which sets the pay and conditions of WA politicians, judges, mayors and senior public servants, last month scrapped the existing reimbursement system for MPs’ interstate and overseas travel, replacing it with direct payments into their bank accounts every month — whether they travel or not.

Accountability for taxpayers’ funds will be eroded further under the change. It appears there will be no requirement, as there is now, for MPs to report to Parliament on their publicly funded travel.

The existing rules on the Parliamentary Travel Entitlement allow MPs to be reimbursed up to $27,000 each four-year parliamentary term for interstate and overseas travel.

The system allows MPs to recover reasonable costs of flights, accommodation, meals and conference costs in connection with interstate and overseas travel undertaken in connection with their job as Parliamentarians.

“The intent of the allowance is to assist each member of Parliament to inform themselves and to be involved in the policy development and decision-making processes which are fundamental to their duties in the Parliament and in representing their electorates,” the SAT said when it took over the old Imprest scheme in 2013.

“The allowance also provides for reimbursement of attendance fees for conferences, seminars and short courses.”

When the new rules come in on March 12, the scheme will be scrapped and MPs paid a travel entitlement of $6750 a year.

Camera Icon Rules for travel allowances for Members of State Parliament have changes. Credit: WA News, The West Australian

MPs’ pay was frozen last year by the SAT amid a Budget crisis and inflation-only public sector wages policy, but the travel entitlement change amounts to a 4.3 per cent increase to the base backbencher’s pay of $156,536.

An SAT spokesman confirmed MPs would be paid the full entitlement regardless of whether they travelled.

“You are correct that the entitlement will be paid direct to MPs. There is no requirement to refund the money if they do not travel against the requirement in a given year,” the spokesman said.

“It is up to Parliament to institute any reporting requirements for parliamentary travel.”

Just 53 of WA’s 95 MPs travelled under the existing system between its introduction in August 2013 and last September, when the most recent report on travel was tabled. While many spent five-figure sums, none spent the maximum $27,000.

An MP, who asked not to be named so as not to incur the ire of parliamentary colleagues, said the change was a disgrace.

“The people who refuse to use it, instead just pocketing it as extra income, are the people who should be travelling to broaden their mind,” the MP said.

Premier Colin Barnett said the SAT made its determinations independent of Government.

But privately, Department of Premier and Cabinet officials are scrambling to deal with the implications of the SAT decision because it is silent on reporting requirements.

Presently, MPs’ travel under the scheme is reported quarterly to the Parliament, with names, dates, destination and cost of all trips records. MPs must also compile are report on the activities they overtook while on their trips.

But now that is all in doubt and it appears there will be no reporting requirement when the new scheme starts from March 12.