With Health Minister Sussan Ley standing down from the frontbench after buying an apartment on a 2015 taxpayer-funded trip to the Gold Coast, it begs the question, what are Queensland politicians entitled to bill to the taxpayer and how much have they spent?

It ranges from taxis, the cost of newsletters or barbecues to ministerial overseas travel costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Ministers also have a range of benefits, such as a chauffeur and a CEO-level car for official purposes, and complimentary membership to the Qantas chairman's lounge.

What can politicians claim in Queensland?

Queensland MPs can claim an electorate allowance, travel, motor vehicle and other allowances, according to the 65-page Members' Remuneration Handbook.

Members of parliament are entitled to an electorate office and communication allowance, which ranges from $63,000 to $69,700, based on the population and size of the electorate.

This can be used for activities, such as hosting community barbecues, publishing newsletters, home and mobile phone and data costs, and minor office equipment, but it cannot be used for private or commercial purposes, political party activity or campaigning.

Travel entitlements include a general allocation, motor vehicle allowance and warrant travel.

The general travel allocation ranges from $18,360 to $77,720 depending on the size of the electorate.

The motor vehicle allowance ranges from $25,500 to $42,000 depending on the size of their electorate.

There is also an allowance of $1500 for cleaning electorate offices.

And each member receives a laptop - unless they already get one by ministerial services - two computers for offices, printing equipment and landline phones from the parliamentary service.

A government spokesman said salaries, allowances and entitlements of Queensland MPs were determined by an independent tribunal.

"The determinations are published and open to public comment," he said.

"The published Remuneration Handbook outlines the salaries, allowances entitlements as well as accountability measures that apply to all members of parliament."

How much have we paid for overseas trips by Queensland ministers?

Queensland ministers have spent more than half a million dollars on overseas travel in the past financial year, according to figures published recently.

In the 12 months to June 30, 2016, overseas trips by ministers cost taxpayers $556,882 in total, or $607,058.99 when including $1892.54 in overseas hospitality costs and $54,801.90 in opposition costs.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was number one, visiting China, Japan, Hong Kong and the US, with a bill of $190,120.

Treasurer Curtis Pitt was number two, visiting Singapore, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, UK, the US and China, with a bill of $102,417.

Deputy Premier and Trade Minister Jackie Trad came in at number three, visiting Singapore, the UK, Germany, India, Singapore, Indonesia and South Korea, with a bill of $80,617.

Other ministers on the overseas travel list were Environment Minister Steven Miles with $31,025, former agriculture minister Bill Byrne with $23,095, Natural Resources Minister Anthony Lynham with $51,081, Education Minister Kate Jones with $26,501 and Innovation Minister Leeanne Enoch with $39,823.

For comparison, the LNP government had a bill for ministerial overseas travel of $478,421 for the 12 months to June 30, 2014.

Overseas travel reports are also periodically tabled in parliament, with the latest trips being taken by Education and Tourism Minister Kate Jones to China in November 2016, Deputy Premier and Trade Minister Jackie Trad to China and Hong Kong in November and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to Japan in November.

So what costs have Queensland MPs claimed?

In October, Fairfax Media revealed the travel costs of Queensland MPs.

The western Queensland electorates of Mount Isa, Gregory, Warrego and Dalrymple cover an area larger than Egypt, and their travel costs topped the list in the past financial year.

Member for Mount Isa Robbie Katter, whose electorate is larger than Thailand, had one of the largest bills, spending $71,419.08 on general travel and $22,140.66 on "air warrant" travel in 2015-16.

The general travel allocation includes the cost of airfares, a daily travel allowance (for accommodation, meals, dry cleaning etc), car hire, taxis, public transport, car parking and other costs. It is generally restricted to domestic travel, or within New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

In order to comply with the rules, it must be undertaken for the primary purpose of conducting parliamentary business.

This includes travelling to or from sitting dates or attending functions on official business representing a minister.

Travel by the leader of the opposition, leader of a recognised political party or leader of a minor party in the Legislative Assembly for the purpose of campaigning during an "official election campaign period" also meets the criteria for parliamentary business.

In limited circumstances, travel costs associated with spouses will be met.

The daily travel allowance is $315 per day for state and capital cities, $270 per day for other destinations.

Politicians who stay in the parliamentary annexe overnight can get a daily travel allowance of $105 while on parliamentary business or when parliament is sitting, or $315 if they do not have a room in the annexe.

Members representing certain regional electorates also get "air warrants" for travel between their electorate and Brisbane.

Politicians can also claim a daily travel allowance while travelling overseas on parliamentary business of $333.

Former politicians are also allowed to take advantage of travel perks, racking up $295,820.54 in 2015-16.

Labor member for Bulimba Di Farmer spent more than $82,000 through her electorate and communication allowance in the past financial year, higher than any other MP, although she paid the over-expenditure personally.

How much do politicians in Queensland's parliament earn?

The annual base salary is $155,621, but pay packets are boosted by holding extra positions.

For example, a member of a committee takes home $179,348, a minister earns $321,713, the opposition leader earns $321,713 and the Premier earns $392,895.

What's the big deal?

Griffith University political expert Paul Williams said most people believed politicians were overpaid and underworked, no matter how much they were paid or how much they worked.

"The perception is that they're always exceeding their entitlements and that they have a sense of entitlement," Dr Williams said.

"I think some people in the community won't be happy until MPs work for nothing.

"[But] then you get millionaires who can afford not to work."

Dr Williams said while there were questions raised over claims in the federal sphere, Queensland MPs were much more conscious of "making sure that they're being seen to be frugal".

He said issues often arose because not every case was clear on what was public and what was a private duty.

"An MP who is away might be visiting a colleague's electorate to attend some sort of seminar or meeting on industry, that MP is on a committee in the parliament but they also attend another local MP's wedding - at which point does private meet public?" Dr Williams said.

"How much of that travel allowance should be paid back? If one-tenth was personal? They were having a good time and not working? These are incredibly difficult formulas to work out."

Dr Williams said it was important for politicians to get out of their offices.

"You can't have a foreign minister sitting in Canberra behind a desk all the time, same with trade ministers," he said.

"There are legitimate concerns that some politicians are still living in an age of entitlement when we should be living in an age of restraint, but at the same time let's not throw the baby out with the bath water."

Dr Williams said transparency was the key to making sure the system worked well.

"The tighter and more specific the rules the better," he said.

"Voters and journalists need to access them [the claims] easily. A bit like electoral donations."

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