NSW MPs face a crackdown on their use of frequent flyer points earned while travelling on taxpayer-funded official business after 22 members failed to guarantee they had not used them for private travel.
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MPs must sign an annual declaration stating they have not used loyalty or reward scheme benefits – such as frequent flyer points – accrued through the use of taxpayer-funded entitlements for non-parliamentary purposes.
But the acting NSW Auditor-General, Tony Whitfield, in June revealed that 22 MPs, who have not been publicly named, failed to do so.
Mr Whitfield recommended that the Parliamentary Remuneration Tribunal consider ways of addressing the non-compliance.
In its latest determination, the tribunal has warned it is considering changing the rules so that any MP who fails to sign the declaration will be cut off from further taxpayer-funded entitlements until they do so.
The tribunal said it would consider introducing the change as part of its 2016 review.
The tribunal also flagged a change in how MPs claim the Sydney allowance, which is available to MPs who live at least 70 kilometres from NSW Parliament House or represent an "outer non-metropolitan electorate".
It is designed to cover overnight accommodation and other costs in Sydney while on parliamentary business.
Ministers, senior office holders and party leaders can claim up to $278 a day for 180 nights, or $50,040 a year.
MPs may claim their total annual entitlement up front for a financial year, but must repay any unused portion by the following September 30.
But the same auditor-general's report revealed that one unnamed MP had failed to pay back more than $25,500 in Sydney allowance claimed upfront as at March 31, six months after the due date.
Seven unnamed MPs had failed to return their unspent Sydney allowance by September 30, 2014.
The tribunal said it would consider a recommendation by the parliament's presiding officers – Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Shelley Hancock and Legislative Council President Don Harwin – to fix the situation.
The proposal "would reduce the quantum of any upfront payment in respect of the Sydney allowance, and therefore remove or reduce the need for members to reimburse to the parliament the unspent portion".
