A Coalition senator is threatening to oppose his own government's plan to axe the notorious Life Gold Pass - which gives former MPs free business-class travel on the taxpayer - saying it's time someone stood up for politicians.
Queensland backbencher Ian Macdonald says politicians work extremely hard and don't get paid particularly well for their efforts.
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One politician's crusade for free travel
Veteran Liberal Senator Ian Macdonald is pushing to keep the Life Gold Pass that gives former parliamentarians taxpayer-funded business class travel for life.
In a speech to the Senate on Thursday, Senator Macdonald said it was time someone fought back against the notion politicians were freeloaders."It's about time our leaders started just emphasising how much work politicians do, how much commitment most of the people who sit in this Parliament have," Senator Macdonald told the chamber during a debate on an unrelated bill.
"They don't get particularly well paid.
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"Most parliamentarians, well those on this side, would have done infinitely better financially staying in their legal practice, staying in their business, staying in their veterinary practice, staying in their jobs they had before."
Senator Macdonald - who is paid a salary of $200,000 a year as a backbencher - was one of two Coalition MPs who used a party room meeting this week to speak against Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's entitlements crackdown.
He was particularly incensed at news the Life Gold Pass - which he would have been eligible to access - would be axed.
"I will be moving amendments to the Life Gold Pass bill. You're welcome to listen to that and hear my arguments in full at that time," he confirmed to Fairfax Media later. He would not detail the amendments nor say what he would do if they failed.
The new bill to abolish the Life Gold Pass was introduced into the lower house on Thursday. Earlier, Mr Turnbull personally introduced a bill to establish a new entitlements watchdog that will oversee and report on MPs' expenses. It will begin operating on July 1.
"This is the first step in the biggest reforms to the management of parliamentary expenses in more than a generation," Mr Turnbull said.
He announced the new authority in January following the scandal that led to the resignation of former health minister Sussan Ley. Mr Turnbull says it will improve transparency and ensure politicians are held accountable for their use of taxpayer money.
Senator Macdonald said he would also move amendments to the authority bill, seeking to strengthen the watchdog so it could also capture public servants.
"Most of them who have infinitely more power and spending capability than anyone in this Parliament House," he said. "It's time to widen the net."
Senator Macdonald said he would still support that bill if his amendments failed.
Former Queensland LNP MP Ewen Jones said it was not a good look for Senator Macdonald to be defending politicians' entitlements.
"It's about complete and utter self interest," Mr Jones said. "No one can expect their workplace entitlements to remain the same forever. It's Ian's right to make his point but no politician will ever win in any argument about their wages and conditions."
The Coalition first promised to scrap the Life Gold Pass nearly three years ago but the plan was put on the backburner. Late last year, the government drew fire for saying it was too busy to follow through on its pledge – even though the legislation would sail through Parliament with Labor, Greens and crossbench support.
The Life Gold Pass once offered former MPs unlimited travel at taxpayers' expense. Changes in 2002 limited that to 25 return flights a year and further changes in 2012 limited it to 10 return flights.
The Gillard government scrapped it for any MPs elected after 2012.
Under Mr Turnbull's plan it will now be fully abolished for all but former prime ministers and their spouses. Mr Turnbull says he will not use it.
The changes are expected to kick more than 150 former MPs off the scheme, saving taxpayers an estimated $5 million over the next five years.
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