Federal Coalition MPs raised questions in a party room meeting on Tuesday about plans to axe a taxpayer-funded travel entitlement for retired politicians.

The Government pledged in the budget to axe the life gold pass scheme, which allows former MPs some travel on the public purse.

It followed a decision in 2011 by the former Labor Government to close the scheme for new MPs and cut the number of annual return trips from 25 to 10.

The ABC has been told at least three long-serving MPs questioned the budget decision.

Victorian MP Russell Broadbent is understood to have expressed concerns about whether the decision applied retrospectively.

He was joined by Queensland senator Ian MacDonald who is understood to have made similar points and also reserved his position about whether he would vote for it.

The issue of a retrospective change being open to a legal challenge from former MPs was also raised.

Another long-serving Queensland MP, Warren Entsch, also raised a general concern about entitlements being changed.

Proposed changes to entitlements Travel entitlements reduced for current and former politicians

Travel entitlements reduced for current and former politicians Spouse travel is axed for all but former prime ministers

Spouse travel is axed for all but former prime ministers All travel by former MPs will be required to be for the public benefit

All travel by former MPs will be required to be for the public benefit The 25 per cent penalty loading on serving and former MPs travel claims that have to be paid back will be legally enforceable

He told the party room that politicians and the parliament should not override decisions made by the independent Remuneration Tribunal, which sets pay and conditions for members of Parliament.

Mr Broadbent told the ABC he does not support the gold pass scheme and believes it to be an anachronism.

However, he said he spoke up on principle because MPs and those former MPs affected by the proposed change should be consulted and the change should be negotiated with them.

A decision to impose a 25 per cent penalty for MPs who have to repay wrongly-claimed travel entitlements was also questioned.

The ABC understands concerns were raised that MPs have difficulty getting clear advice in writing from the Finance Department, which administers parliamentary entitlements.

The party room meeting was told of one occasion where an MP was advised their claim was within the rules only to have the department reverse its decision months later and say the money needed to be repaid.