New data shows former politicians are taking the taxpayers for a ride.

A new article in the Spinoff has revealed the Government has been spending around $300,000 per year to provide Crown limousines to former Prime Ministers and their spouses - even though the service goes mostly unused.

Remuneration Authority chair Geoff Summers says it's unclear if these costs could be cut as a result.

"All it says is that when a person stops being a Prime Minister, as the Royal Commission said way back then - it inevitably attracts obligations of a social nature that don't disappear with retirement." 

LISTEN ABOVE