The Turnbull Government's long-promised reform of the entitlements system is unlikely to force Australia's politicians into cattle class, despite prominent companies rejecting business fares for short flights.
The review driving the reform ignored criticism of excessive travel costs and backed the practice of MPs sitting in business. The report drafted by an independent committee stated the more expensive ticket “enables parliamentarians to use their considerable travel time productively by working semi-privately.”
However corporations are forcing their staff to be more frugal, with the likes of Telstra and the Commonwealth Bank (CBA) restricting the use of premium fares for staff.
"All domestic flights are booked as economy unless more than five-and-a-half hours in duration," a CBA spokesperson said.
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There is an exception in place for senior executives within the bank to fly business, however, the company says they often elect to fly economy, particularly on domestic legs.
"For flights over five-and-a-half hours in duration, it is reviewed on a case-by-case basis with a focus on cost efficiency.”
Independent Senator Nick Xenophon said he opts to fly economy and believes his parliamentary colleagues should do the same.
"If they need to get work done they can do it in economy like I do," he said.
On Friday Prime Minster Malcolm Turnbull announced changes to parliamentarians' work expenses, including monthly disclosures to be overseen by an independent body, however, Senator Xenophon wants more.
He wants a rule in place which makes it mandatory for federal politicians to travel economy class on flights less than two hours long and is pushing for the major parties to back the reform.
"I also want politicians to be forced to declare what class they've taken rather than just how much the total fare cost," he said.
On the 60 minute flight between Melbourne and Canberra, the premium for a business class ticket is as high as $1000. The minister in charge of entitlements, Senator Scott Ryan, regularly flies this route at the front of the plane.
Senator Xenophon said on a flight that short there is no reason why politicians should be charging the taxpayer hundreds of extra dollars.
The price of a fully-flexible economy class Qantas flight from Melbourne to Canberra averages $375 and the same route on Virgin Australia costs an average of $360 for an economy ticket.
Senator Ryan's expense claims show he charged taxpayers nearly $42,000 for domestic flights in the first half of 2016, including a one one-way flight from Melbourne to Perth in April costing taxpayers $3470.
The Turnbull Government's pledging to reform the system early in 2017, after sitting on a review for nearly a year which found the entitlements scheme needs reforming.
Of the 36 recommended changes to the system only three have been implemented.
