Weddings scandal without scalps

An Abbott government minister says the row over taxpayer-funded travel expenses is 'absurd'. Source: AAP

LABOR reckons that unlike its political opponents it has been "fair and balanced" in responding to the growing expenses scandal as they haven't demanded scalps or called for police investigations.

As questions mount about taxpayer dollars spent on politicians' expenses, so too are calls for the entitlements scheme to be overhauled.

Currently politicians can access a range of allowances for travel and accommodation as long as they specify it is for official business, parliamentary sittings or party meetings.

Documents detailing their claims, which the Department of Finance issues, do not detail what the "official business" entails.

Interim Labor leader Chris Bowen said while his party wasn't out to say everything the Liberals had claimed was wrong, "there is a dangerous pattern of poor judgement".

"We would welcome any proposals the government wants to put forward in relation to better guidelines for members of parliament because the grey areas in my view have been exploited," he said on Wednesday.

The Australian Greens and independent senator Nick Xenophon have also called for guidelines to be tightened.

In recent weeks there have been revelations of senior coalition figures claiming travel allowances for attending weddings and Prime Minister Tony Abbott getting taxpayers to cover his flights and accommodation when he entered various sporting events.

At least $4000 has been repaid.

Labor hasn't been immune, with shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus repaying $466 claimed for two nights he spent on a skiing trip rather than in Canberra and Wayne Swan defending using the RAAF VIP jet to head to a football final when he was acting prime minister.

"We've taken a very fair and balanced approach to this," Mr Bowen said.

"We haven't done what the then-opposition did and refer people off to the Australian Federal Police or called for resignations and pursue people out of public life."

In opposition, the coalition pursued former house speaker Peter Slipper over the alleged misuse of Cabcharge dockets to pay for $900 worth of travel to Canberra region wineries.

Junior minister Jamie Briggs believes the expenses row lacks perspective, saying it pales into insignificance beside the prime minister's important diplomatic work.

"In the end this issue is one that will get some attention for a couple of days but over time will lose its significance, compared to the significant events the prime minister is participating in overseas."

Queensland premier Campbell Newman also weighed in, saying politicians should be able to claim travel expenses as work so long as they're not visiting family or friends.

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