Federal politicians would be forced to have all travel claims from 2013 audited annually under laws proposed by an independent MP.
A private bill, introduced to parliament by Andrew Wilkie on Monday, would also require every MP and senator to list all substantive activities - work-related and private - while on official travel, with any misuse of expenses referred to police.
"This would mean that politicians can no longer trip around the country principally for private purposes and dress it up as official travel," he said.
Mr Wilkie listed examples, including former Speaker Bronwyn Bishop's infamous $5000 helicopter ride from Melbourne to Geelong.
"No wonder there's a broad view ... that many members and senators have their snouts in the trough of profiting from the taxpayer on account of their job," he told parliament.
"We have a problem."
A suite of reforms recently passed by parliament, including the axing of the life gold pass and establishment of an independent expenses authority, do not nearly go far enough, Mr Wilkie said.
He was also sceptical those changes would ever be fully implemented.
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