South Australian MP Fraser Ellis has been charged by an anti-corruption body with misusing an accommodation allowance to the tune of $18,000.
Mr Ellis has suspended his membership of the Liberal Party and will move to the crossbench, meaning the South Australian government, now holds 23 seats in the parliament – one short of the 24 needed to form a majority.
Mr Ellis revealed the charges against him in parliament, saying he is innocent and will defend all allegations.
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"I'd like to take this rather unconventional time to inform the House that yesterday I was charged with alleged offences arising from the recent ICAC investigation into the Country Members' Accommodation Allowance," Mr Ellis said.
"I am completely innocent and I will be vigorously defending these allegations to the full extent of my resources and the law.
"I make this statement now, Mr Speaker, knowing that there has been no public statements from the ICAC or the Department of Public Prosecutions because I have nothing to hide, my conscience is clear."
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Following Mr Ellis' statement in parliament, the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC) Ann Vanstone released a public letter outlining the charges.
She alleges Mr Ellis made 78 fraudulent claims between May 2018 and June 2020 for the Country Members Accommodation Allowance, totalling more than $18,000.
The allowance is available to members of parliament whose residence is more than 75 kilometres away from Adelaide, and who are required to stay in Adelaide overnight to attend to parliamentary duties.
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It is alleged that Mr Ellis claimed the allowance on instances in which he did not spend the night in Adelaide.
"I would not ordinarily name a person charged as a result of an investigation by me but in light of Mr Ellis's statement in Parliament this morning, it is appropriate that I do so on this occasion," Ms Vanstone said.
Mr Marshall refused to be drawn into the matter, only commenting to say he received written confirmation from Mr Ellis that he will be continuing to support the government from the crossbench.
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"Well, I'm not going to comment on the charges," Mr Marshall said.
"He's made it clear that he will be suspending his membership of the Liberal Party, he is not a member of the Liberal Party, I'm just getting on with the important jobs that are in front of us at the moment, keeping our state safe, our economy strong."
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