Philip Ruddock can no longer pocket his full parliamentary pension on top of a generous salary he's receiving for being Australia's special envoy on human rights.
Australia is in a tough race to secure a spot on the United Nations Human Rights Council against Spain and France, with elections due in October.
It's the role of the former Liberal MP, who served in federal parliament for close to 44 years, to lobby support for Australia's bid.
It is normal practice for former MPs who become ambassadors to have their pensions reduce, however, the special envoy title provided Mr Ruddock with a legal loophole.
He took legal advice about his pension last year and refused to accept a pension reduction unlike former Australian Democrats senator Natasha Stott Despoja when she was appointed ambassador for women and girls.
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade official Lachlan Strahan told a Senate estimates hearing on Thursday that Mr Ruddock's case was referred to the independent Remuneration Tribunal.
The tribunal in mid-February ruled Mr Ruddock's pension should be reduced.
The ruling is not retrospective, so Mr Ruddock won't have to reimburse the double pay he received last year.
His parliamentary pension is in the ballpark of $200,000 a year.
Mr Ruddock is paid at senior executive level band two rate for the days he is engaged as an envoy.
The notional total remuneration for executives at that level is $274,507 to $310,598.
Mr Ruddock was doing a top job winning over other countries' support for Australia's bid for the rights' council, Mr Strahan said.
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