Parliamentary entitlements: Former MPs fight to keep lifetime 'gold pass' travel perks

Updated

Former federal MPs are fighting to keep hold of their lifetime "gold pass" travel perks, warning of a High Court challenge if the Government pushes ahead with changes.

On budget night in May, the Government announced it would abolish the Life Gold Pass Scheme for former MPs effective immediately.

The scheme provided former MPs and senators with 10 free return airfares within Australia every year. MPs and senators elected since 2012 do not qualify for the scheme.

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

Spouse travel is axed for all but former prime ministers

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

The Association of Former Members of the Parliament of Australia described the Government's move as "symbolic tokenism" based on "political whim and expediency".

"The truth is that previous political manipulations [of] salaries and entitlements... have invariably been driven by incumbent prime ministers for perceived political advantage," the association's President Murray Sainsbury said in a formal submission.

The comments to a Senate inquiry were published late on Friday, but were removed from the website over the weekend at the request of the Association.

The ABC has obtained a copy of the document courtesy of the West Australian newspaper.

The Association of Former MPs warns that retrospectively stripping members of that entitlement would be unconstitutional, because it amounts to "unjust" acquisition of property.

"It is unconscionable that the Government is seeking to legislate to remove... a benefit which clearly was a term and condition of parliamentary remuneration," the submission states.

It estimates abolishing the scheme would provide only "minuscule" savings of $1 million per year over the next five years and may end up costing the Government more if a High Court challenge was successful.

The Association argues that the scheme was introduced as a form of compensation to MPs who "have borne lower than justified salaries" during their political careers.

Labor backs moves to abolish pass

The Federal Opposition has lodged its own submission to the Senate inquiry examining the proposal, backing moves to get rid of the pass.

"I understand some retired members will challenge the Gold Pass abolition legislation in the High Court," Shadow Special Minister of State Gary Gray said.

"I disassociate myself from this challenge."

However Mr Gray has suggested amendments to the Government's plan, arguing the legislation introduces new "bureaucracy and cost".

Topics: federal-parliament, parliament, government-and-politics, laws, law-crime-and-justice, activism-and-lobbying, australia

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