ATO to hold review into politicians' expenses claims
POLITICIANS do not get any special tax rules, but there will be a review into the tax ruling allowing politicians to claim accommodation and other expenses, the head of the Australian Tax Office (ATO) says.
The announcement of the review comes after Labor said it would cut some of the travel allowances politicians receive when they travel to Canberra, if it wins power in July.
The current rules allow federal politicians to claim travel allowance worth $273 a night and claim tax deductions for rent and maintenance if they have bought a property in the capital.
But Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has refused to follow Labor's lead, saying it was important that allowances and pay for politicians be handled independently.
Tax Commissioner Chris Jordan stressed that members of Parliament had to abide by the same standards as everyone else.
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