Keeping MPs on ground

THE Turnbull Government is hoping to avoid future damaging parliamentary expenses scandals by taking away the need for politicians to travel.

Federal MPs are likely to soon have the latest video conferencing equipment installed in their electorate offices, so pollies will have little reason to board a plane other than to attend sittings of Parliament.

While the program is being billed as a scheme to help busy MPs in remote areas stay in touch, it is understood senior government figures are arguing video conferencing would result in fewer headlines about politicians rorting travel entitlements. The technology has been in place for several years for federal public servants.

The Government had a bad start to the new parliamentary year with Sussan Ley forced to resign as health minister after it emerged she used taxpayer funds to travel to the Gold Coast where she bought an apartment.

During a Senate hearing yesterday, clerk of the Senate Richard Pye told WA Liberal Dean Smith a “substantial piece of work” was under way looking at installing video conferencing facilities at electorate offices.

He said there were already video conferencing facilities set up in two committee rooms in Parliament for witnesses to parliamentary hearings.

A 2011 Telstra and Cisco study of teleconferencing for federal bureaucrats found more than $100,000 in travel costs was saved for one meeting after public servants used a video conference rather than travelling to meet face-to-face.