Taxpayers paid $50,000 to fly MPs around the country for Liberal MP Tim Wilson's inquiry into franking credits as part of a Coalition campaign to dismantle a signature Labor policy.

Mr Wilson, the chair of the inquiry, spent $7980 on flights and claimed $2584 in travel allowance on the 19 public hearings across the country.

Liberal MP Craig Kelly was the next highest spender, charging taxpayers $9526 on flights and travel allowance to attend the hearings, which were also used to recruit Liberal party members and as a promotional tool for Liberal fundraisers.

Liberal MP Tim Wilson chairing the franking credit public hearing at Chatswood, Sydney, in February. Credit:James Brickwood

Labor MPs Josh Wilson, Matt Thistethwaite and Matt Keogh also charged taxpayers between $6000 and $9000 to attend the hearings. The figures do not include the cost of venue hire or the secretariat, which according to forecast obtained in January, are likely to see the total bill rise to $160,000.