A new system to tighten the rules around travel entitlements for members of parliament has been given the green light.
The Remuneration Tribunal has signed off on the July 1 start of cuts to MP family travel and post-retirement travel for former parliamentarians.
The new system has come about following the scandal surrounding former Speaker Bronwyn Bishop's use of a chartered helicopter to attend a Liberal fundraiser.
Under the changes, dependent children of MPs will no longer be eligible for three business class return trips to Canberra, but rather three economy trips.
The tribunal noted it was not an "indulgence" but a way of helping MPs maintain a family life, given that most of them are away from home for at least 20 weeks a year.
Retired MPs would lose their entitlement to five return trips to Canberra or their former electorate office in six months, and instead get three economy return trips to Canberra or their former electorate office in three months.
However, MPs in the country's biggest electorates, some of which are larger than European countries, will get greater flexibility in their spending.
The rule changes are part of a broader work expenses framework being put in place by the government.
The government introduced draft laws for the new rules, backed up by an Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority, on March 30 but the bill has not yet passed parliament.
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