The decision to release MPs' expenses information has seen politicians claiming back less international travel costs, Parliamentary Services manager Geoff Thorn says.The international travel rebate ranges from 25 percent to 90 percent, depending on length
The decision to release MPs' expenses information has seen politicians claiming back less international travel costs, Parliamentary Services manager Geoff Thorn says.
The international travel rebate ranges from 25 percent to 90 percent, depending on length of service.
Mr Thorn said the decision to release the expenses information was made by Speaker Lockwood Smith.
"In terms of any impact that that disclosure has had, we have seen a reduction in things like the international travel rebate and the use of the rebate," he said.
He said Dr Smith was talking to the Remuneration Authority about the decreased use of the rebate as it took it into account when setting MPs' salaries.
"The service itself is not planning on making any other information available to the public. That would be a decision that comes from the Speaker."
In July, the Parliamentary Appropriations Review Committee said there was no good reason to retain the rebate in its current form.
The independent committee said MPs' salaries should be adjusted to reflect the remuneration component of the entitlement. That would mean an approximate 10 percent increase on average in salaries, but no increase in total remuneration.
