KEY POINTS:
Three National MPs have decided to boycott a select committee trip to Melbourne next week, claiming it is "a junket".
The justice and electoral committee is scheduled to fly to Melbourne business class on Monday, stay at the Hilton, and return on Friday.
But the delegation has shrunk to just five with the withdrawal last night of National MPs Chris Finlayson, Chris Auchinvole and Nicky Wagner.
Mr Finlayson, deputy chairman of the committee, said he received the itinerary last night and that about 20 hours' work for the week meant it was not worth going.
"It is not what we are used to. If we want to do things like this we want to work." It would be acceptable if the visit were truncated over two days.
The committee could not get to Canberra either.
Mr Finlayson said he believed there was great value in such trips ordinarily, "But I just don't think this jaunt is of any use whatsoever. I would call it a junket".
Those going are Labour MPs Lynne Pillay, who chairs the committee, Charles Chauvel and Ann Hartley, Green MP Nandor Tanczos and Maori Party MP Hone Harawira.
Mr Finlayson also objected to MPs' flying business class or premium economy on such a short flight.
Air New Zealand's website last night showed that the cheapest return economy fare to Melbourne on the flights the committee is taking would come to $611 as opposed to the cheapest business class return flights of $1341.
Ms Pillay said last night she was very disappointed at the MPs' decision. They had helped to prepare the committee's application for the trip.
She believed National could be playing politics over the Election Finance Bill, which had been referred to the committee and which National opposed.
Asked if it was a junket, she said, "Absolutely not".
The appointments would help the committee achieve clarity on the election finance law and on the inquiry it was running into victims' rights.
She believed the fact they were flying business class was "irrelevant".
The committee is going to visit Minter Ellison, the former law firm of committee member Charles Chauvel, because it specialises in giving Crown advice.
THE COMMITTEE'S ITINERARY
MONDAY
9am - Check into hotel
10am - Victoria Electoral Commission.
1pm - Lunch at commission
2pm - Department of Justice
4pm - Finish for the day
TUESDAY
10am - Australian Electoral Commission
12.30 - Lunch at Parliament
2pm - Question time
3.30pm - Law Reform Committee
6pm - Working dinner
WEDNESDAY
10am - Visit Minter Ellison law firm
11.30am - Victorian Law Reform Commission (to be confirmed)
4.30pm - Finish
THURSDAY
10am - Neighbourhood Justice Centre
2.20pm - Victims of Crimes Assistance Tribunal
4.30pm - Finish
FRIDAY
8.30am - Victoria Police (Victims Advisory Unit)
10am - Leave for airport.
