MP spending details must be public - follow Scottish parliament

Greens democracy spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon has said immediate steps should be taken to increase transparency of how MPs' use their parliamentary allowances by making all information available on a searchable website.

"Putting the public spotlight on how MPs spend their allowances will put pressure on MPs to do the right thing," Senator Rhiannon said.

"The public should not have to wait for another inquiry to be completed before being given access to this information.

"The Greens have long advocated that our parliament replicate the user friendly system in the Scottish parliament that allows the public to quickly find how much MPs spend on accommodation, travel, staff and everything covered by allowances.

"This Scottish parliamentary website - mspallowances.scottish.parliament.uk - shows how easy it is to open the door on how Australian MPs use their allowances.

"Making this information available should be a priority for the Abbott government. Such a website would help restore public confidence in our democratic institutions.

"The Greens welcome a far reaching inquiry into parliamentary allowances and we will push for constructive recommendations to be quickly adopted.

"The last such inquiry - the 2010 Review of Parliamentary Entitlements - was largely ignored by both major parties with few of its recommendations adopted.

"MPs are elected by the public to work for the public good and the public have a right to know how MPs use the hundreds of millions of dollars of public money to undertake that work," Senator Rhiannon said.

Contact Brami Jegan 0487350880