Parliament's Speaker Lockwood Smith has defended subsidised international travel for MPs, saying it is part of their remuneration package.
Dr Smith says the cost of the travel perk was assessed 6 years ago as part of an MP's total pay package.
Dr Smith says the publicity around the use of the subsidised international travel is causing a lot of angst for the partners of MPs.
He says while he understands public concern about the issue, people should be aware that in 2003 the Remuneration Authority took it into account when setting pay rates.
The authority determined then that MPs should be paid $143,700 a year but deducted various allowances, including the travel perk, before making a final decision on the base salary.
Dr Smith says that means the travel allowance isn't an additional cost to taxpayers.
