Originally conceived to provide rail travel for past and serving politicians in 1918, when the remuneration for holding office was far less than it is today, the scheme has grown like topsy.

This has, in some cases, seen individuals who no longer have any connection with government bill the taxpayer for tens of thousands of dollars a year for business class air travel.

Disgraced former speaker, Peter Slipper, is reported to have claimed $12,620 in the first six months of 2016. Former Labor leader, Simon Crean, claimed $9,827.61 over the same period while former Liberal Senator, Michael Ronaldson, invoiced the Australian public for $7,494.

The record for arguably excessive Gold Card use is believed to still be held by former ALP senator, Ruth Webber, who claimed $48,516 in business class travel "as an extremely frequent flyer" in her first six months under the scheme in 2008/2009.

It was subsequently reported Ms Webber claimed $116,662 over two years at the rate of a flight every five days.

Given there have been numerous instances where retired politicians, including former Howard Government minister, Geoff Prosser, and former speaker and leader of The Nationals, Ian Sinclair, used the perk to transport themselves and other family members to their own holiday homes, there is no shortage of issues to be outraged about.

The trouble is the recent entitlements scandals Mr Turnbull was responding to have involved serving parliamentarians, not former MPs pushing their Gold Cards to the limit.

This is why a significant percentage of social media posts have suggested Mr Turnbull is taking a populist line to divert attention away from the core issue.

That issue is the culture of entitlement that has been allowed to take root within the ranks of our elected politicians.

The remarkable way in which both Bronwyn Bishop and Sussan Ley initially chose to defend some very ill considered decisions about how public funds should be used are clear examples of this.

Equally remarkable was the failed High Court challenge lodged by former Howard Government minister, John Moore, Hawke minister, Barry Cohen, and Labor MPs, Barry Cunningham and Anthony Lamb, when their entitlements were trimmed back to a bare 10 business class flights a year by Tony Abbott.

If the axing of the travel Gold Pass for all but former prime ministers is just the first step in a sincere attempt to educate the political class to exercise their entitlements in the spirit in which they were intended then well and good.

If not then voters have every right to feel they have been short changed on this issue once again.