Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at a campaign rally for MP Steve Irons in June. Credit:Andrew Meares Not enough eyebrow raising happens when it comes to the generous system of MPs' entitlements. Or, should I say, work expenses. For that is how the government is trying to reframe them in the eyes of a sceptical public. "These are not entitlements," cabinet secretary Arthur Sinodinos said on Sunday when asked about the questionable expenditure of yet another MP.

Federal Liberal MP Steve Irons also charged the taxpayer to attend Melbourne's Derby Day. Credit:Guy Magowan "These are work expenses which are paid for by the taxpayer." Which would be fine if it was some stamps, or a trip to another city for a committee hearing, or a dozen lamingtons to say thank you to a tireless community volunteer. But, this time, it's thousands of dollars of airfares and accommodation to attend Melbourne's Derby Day and a golf tournament on the Gold Coast. The MP is Steve Irons.

You probably don't know him from a bar of soap unless you read the story about the time he charged taxpayers for the cost of attending his own wedding. All his office could say when my colleagues called to asked about his latest expenses claim was that the trips had been reviewed and were "in accordance with the department's travel rules". Which is true. Which is because the rules stink. Which is what happens when you give people a generous pot of money to spend in any way they like so long as they ask themselves to look themselves in the eye and faithfully promise they have spent the money in the right way.

It's a great system to be a part of, which is why, typically, major party MPs invoke the cone of silence when it comes to these types of affairs. And they say there is no bipartisanship in politics. Why risk criticising a system that is so generous to oneself? Enter the independents and minor parties. Nick Xenophon, a man who once caught a Greyhound bus across the US so as not to excessively slug the taxpayer, the Greens, Andrew Wilkie and Cathy McGowan are often the only voices from inside the system calling for its reform. Wilkie and McGowan last week called for it to be mandatory for MPs to provide a detailed account of the reasons for their travel, the disclosure of expenses in real time and for the Australian Federal Police to be given the power to investigate MPs for suspicious use of funds.

This came as the High Court smacked down a case brought by four former MPs who felt their existing post retirement entitlements were not adequate. At least someone can call out snouts in the trough when they see them. Right now the latest review of MPs' entitlements, which is where all this language about taxpayer-funded work expenses came from, is sitting on the desk of the Special Minister of State, Scott Ryan. Who knows what will happen to it? For people who are supposed to represent the people, most politicians show an extraordinary inability to see what most people think is a fair and reasonable use of their money.

And therein lies the problem – at the heart of all of this grubby greed is not just the system of entitlements, but the sense of entitlement that goes with it. Follow Stephanie Peatling on Facebook.