Prime Minister Tony Abbott says politicians must be more business-like in their approach to travel expenses while also meeting community expectations.
His comments came as News Corp reported that Treasurer Joe Hockey charged taxpayers $14,000 to fly his family business class to Perth during a school holiday in 2013.
Asked about the expense, Mr Abbott said there were things that had been within the rules but outside community expectations.
"The point that I'm making is that the sorts of things that would be inappropriate for people in business should likewise be not something that members of parliament do," he told Nine Network on Sunday.
The travel entitlements saga has dogged both sides of parliament in recent weeks - sparked by revelations former Speaker Bronwyn Bishop spent $5000 of taxpayer money for a helicopter trip to a party fundraiser - and has prompted Mr Abbott to call for an independent review.
Mrs Bishop eventually stepped down as Speaker over the scandal, and Mr Abbott appears to have taken a hit as well. A new poll shows he has fallen further behind Opposition Leader Bill Shorten as preferred prime minister - 41.5 per cent to 58.5 per cent.
The ReachTEL poll conducted for Fairfax Media also shows Labor continues to lead the government 53 per cent to 47 per cent on a two-party preferred basis.
Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen fully supported Mr Abbott's review of entitlements that have been in place for decades, but said the outcome must strike the right balance.
Members of parliament, whether they be Labor, Liberal or Green, did work hard, he said.
"They spend a lot of time away from their homes and their families and it is appropriate that there be support in place as we go about our daily business, just as there is for business people travelling around the country," he told Sky News.
Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese said if politicians wanted the public's respect, they had to show respect in return.
While he won't be claiming expenses for attending the annual Light on the Hill Labor fundraiser dinner in Bathurst next month because he will be driving from Sydney, he defended colleagues, including Mr Shorten, who will be travelling from Melbourne.
Greens Leader Richard Di Natale said he was concerned the Labor and Liberal parties would work together to hose down reform of the entitlements system.
"Nothing brings them closer together than protecting their own perks," he told ABC television.
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