Diplomats lose outfit, pay TV allowances

Australian diplomats will have to pay for their own party frocks and tuxedos when they attend fancy soirees as part of a shake-up of taxpayer-funded perks.

Nor will they be entitled to a satellite television allowance or pre-posting financial counselling.

Taxpayer-funded allowances for staff sent overseas with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and other government agencies were trimmed in the May budget to save $37 million over four years.

The government argues the changes are in line with community expectations.

Members of the defence force and federal police on active operations are exempt from the changes.

A child reunion supplement, household maintenance and assistance and additional home allowance are also set to be abolished.

DFAT secretary Frances Adamson told a Senate estimates hearing on Wednesday the 890 staff on postings now won't be affected because the changes only apply to new appointments from July.