Ex-cop hired to probe MP expenses

The agency in charge of checking travel and other expense claims by federal members of parliament and their staff has hired an ex-federal police investigator.

Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority chief Annwyn Godwin said the former officer had been hired within the agency's audit section.

She told a Senate estimates hearing on Tuesday the staffer had previous experience in investigating federal MPs.

But she would not elaborate on the nature of the past investigations.

"He had left the AFP and went to another (government) agency, so he had a good combination of skills ... that we thought was very valuable," Ms Godwin told the committee.