Another SA MP repays tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars

Another regional South Australian MP is repaying tens of thousands of dollars of allowance entitlements — more than any other MP embroiled in the country expenses scandal so far.

The ABC has confirmed independent Member for Mount Gambier, Troy Bell, is repaying $42,728 to the SA Parliament for Country Members Accommodation Allowance claimed since 2014.

More than $100,000 in incorrect or questionable claims for Country Members Accommodation Allowance has been identified since the ABC began investigating the use of the allowance last year.

Under questioning in a parliamentary budget estimates hearing a week ago, Premier Steven Marshall revealed Mr Bell was repaying money, but was unable to detail how much.

The clerk of the House of Assembly, Rick Crump, told the ABC Mr Bell began making repayments in April for 192 nights claimed under the allowance.

When asked why he was making the repayments, Mr Crump said, “you will need to speak to Mr Bell about that”.

Mr Bell told ABC News “out of an abundance of caution, the decision was made to repay the $42, 728” but he was “unable to provide further comment at this time”.

The Country Members Accommodation Allowance is a nightly payment made to regional MPs who need to be in the city overnight for work and whose usual place of residence is more than 75 kilometres from Adelaide.

Last year, ministers Tim Whetstone and Stephan Knoll resigned from state cabinet after repaying more than $30,000 between them.

First-term Liberal backbencher Fraser Ellis repaid $42,130 before an investigation by the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC) resulted in criminal charges against him.

It is alleged Mr Ellis claimed more than $18,000 for nights he did not spend in Adelaide. He strongly denies the charges.

Long-serving Liberal MPs Terry Stephens and Adrian Pederick also resigned from their positions as Legislative Council President and government whip after questions were raised about their claims to the allowance.

The ABC’s investigation into the allowance revealed Mr Bell was staying rent-free at Mr Stephens’s Norwood home while attending parliamentary sittings.

Mr Bell resigned from the Liberal Party in 2017 after being charged with theft and dishonestly dealing with documents.

The charges resulted from an ICAC investigation into Mr Bell’s work running an independent learning centre in Mount Gambier before he was first elected.

That matter is due to go to trial in February next year.