Travel perks for former MPs will now be protected in law under legislation debated by Parliament yesterday but the amount spent by each individual former MP will be revealed annually.
The Members of Parliament (Remuneration and Services) Bill costs taxpayers about $1.3 million a year.
Former MPs elected before 1999 and their spouses and widows and widowers are entitled to rebates on domestic and international airfares.
Attorney General Chris Finlayson said putting the perks in legislation had been recommended by the Law Commission to ensure they could not be extended or increased except by legislative amendment.
Shadow Leader of the House Trevor Mallard said: "While there might be a few of our older colleagues that are spinning in their graves or spilling their gins at the current time, I think generally transparency has resulted in very good progress."