COURIER MAIL - FEDERAL MPs racked up more than 15 million frequent-flyer points in just six months last year, but their wings could soon be clipped.
The Federal Government is expected to conclude a tender process for $500 million worth of government air travel in the next few months that could dramatically change the way loyalty points are earned and spent.
The Rudd Government is also expected to be handed a major review of the MPs' salaries and perks within weeks ahead of what is expected to be a significant shake-up of the $300 million entitlements system.
Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner made clear before the complex air-travel negotiations began he would prefer MPs and public servants to be stripped of their points.
"The taxpayer indirectly pays the cost, the frequent-flyer points that are built in ultimately to the cost structure of the airline, but the individual gets the benefit and it's often not used for work purposes," he said last year.
Mr Tanner's office has confirmed frequent-flyer points are part of the air-travel negotiations and a deal is expected to be concluded by mid-year.
According to the Remuneration Tribunal determination, members are supposed to use their points only for official travel, but because their accounts are private they cannot be audited.
The latest statistics on MPs' travel revealed politicians saved taxpayers more than $45,000 between January and June last year using more than 1.5 million frequent-flyer points for work travel.
That was an improvement on the previous six months when MPs used 1.1 million points and saved $30,000.
However, the majority of politicians continue to shun official requests to use up the thousands of hoarded points and save the budget even more.
A clutch of Queenslanders made use of their frequent-flyer points between January and June last year.
Labor's north Queensland representatives, Jim Turnour and Senator Jan McLucas, led the charge, each using 58,000 points.
Senior Queensland Liberal MP Ian Macfarlane used 44,000 points, Treasurer Wayne Swan used 19,000 and Liberal Senator Russell Trood 27,000. Families Minister Jenny Macklin was the clear leader though, using 243,000 points and thus saving taxpayers $5700.
And Climate Change Minister Penny Wong saved $16,000 using 198,000 points.
However, they were among only 26 politicians to notify the Finance Department they had made use of their points officially in the first half of last year.
Queenslanders who racked up the largest stock of points in that period were most likely to be non-metropolitan MPs.
By Emma Chalmers