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Three South Australian ministers quit cabinet amid expenses scandal Three South Australian ministers quit cabinet amid expenses scandal
(about 3 hours later)
Stephan Knoll and Tim Whetstone resign over allowances scandal, while David Ridgway leaves in response to reshuffleStephan Knoll and Tim Whetstone resign over allowances scandal, while David Ridgway leaves in response to reshuffle
The South Australian transport minister, Stephan Knoll, and the primary industries minister, Tim Whetstone, have quit their cabinet positions after being embroiled in a scandal over parliamentary allowances. Two South Australian ministers have quit over an allowances scandal and a third has stepped down, forcing premier Steven Marshall into a major cabinet reshuffle amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The premier, Steven Marshall, said the trade minister, David Ridgway, would also step down from the ministry after previously indicating he would not serve in a reshuffled cabinet. Th transport minister, Stephan Knoll, and the primary industries minister Tim Whetstone tendered their resignations on Sunday after wrongly claiming accommodation allowances available to country-based MPs.
Marshall said he had accepted the resignations, describing the allowances issue as an “unacceptable distraction” for the government. The premier, Steven Marshall, said the trade minister, David Ridgway, would also leave the ministry after previously indicating he did not wish to serve in a reshuffled cabinet.
“We’ve got to be focused 100% on the health and the economic issues associated with this coronavirus,” the premier said. “This was a distraction that was not going to go away. On Saturday, Ridgway admitted to signing blank time sheets for his chauffeur before going overseas.
“These ministers have recognised this. They have been accountable.” Marshall said he had accepted the resignations, describing the allowances issue as “extraordinarily disappointing” and an “unacceptable distraction” for the government.
Marshall said he still genuinely believed there had been no deliberate dishonesty on behalf of any members of his team. “These ministers have recognised this. They have been accountable,” the premier said.
Knoll and Whetstone were the highest-profile MPs caught up in the row over incorrectly claiming accommodation allowances. “We’ve got to be focused 100% on the health and the economic issues associated with this coronavirus.”
Under the rules, country MPs can be paid $234 a night for when they leave their electorates and visit Adelaide on parliamentary or other work-related business. Marshall said he remained confident there was no deliberate dishonesty by the former ministers.
Knoll and Whetstone were the highest-profile MPs caught up in the row.
Under current rules, country MPs can be paid $234 a night for when they leave their electorates and visit Adelaide on parliamentary or other work-related business.
Claims for the past decade were tabled in parliament last week, revealing errors among tens of thousands of transactions.Claims for the past decade were tabled in parliament last week, revealing errors among tens of thousands of transactions.
Whetsone paid back about $7,000 wrongly claimed while Knoll admitted to finding three errors but opted to return everything he claimed since 2018 – more than $29,000. Whetsone paid back about $7,000 wrongly claimed while Mr Knoll admitted to finding three errors but opted to return everything he claimed since 2018, more than $29,000.
Also caught up in the row was the upper house president, Terry Stephens, who Marshall said had indicated he would quit that role at the next sitting of the parliament in September. Both said they made some “administrative errors”, with Knoll remaining confident his only related to a few hundred dollars.
Last week the independent commissioner against corruption, Bruce Lander, said he would investigate all the allowance claims over the past 10 years. The remainder, he said, was repaid due to “ambiguity” in the rules.
The premier will take over the trade and investment portfolios, the deputy premier, Vickie Chapman, will be sworn in as primary industries minister while the treasurer, Rob Lucas, will add transport and local government to his responsibilities. Also caught up in the row was upper house president Terry Stephens who Marshall said had indicated he would quit that role at the next sitting of the parliament in September.
Last week, the independent commissioner against corruption, Bruce Lander, said he would investigate all the allowance claims over the past 10 years.
The premier travelled to Government House on Sunday afternoon to confirm the resignations and assume caretaker roles for himself, the deputy premier Vickie Chapman and the treasurer Rob Lucas.
Marshall will take over the trade and investment portfolios, Chapman primary industries and Lucas transport and local government.
Marshall said those arrangements would remain in place until a cabinet reshuffle was finalised in the coming days.Marshall said those arrangements would remain in place until a cabinet reshuffle was finalised in the coming days.