South Australian government plunges into minority as Liberal MP resigns amid fraud charges

A shocking resignation from the Liberal Party has left the state government in the minority as South Australia’s backbencher Fraser Ellis fought 23 fraud charges.

The Liberal government currently holds only 23 seats in a 47-seat parliament, less than the 24 seats required for a majority.

Ellis told Congress at a midnight marathon after 2 am on Friday that he had been charged and suspended party members under investigation.

“I would like to take this fairly unconventional time to inform my home that I was charged yesterday with a recent IACC investigation of national membership allowances.

“I am completely innocent and actively defend these claims in my resources and in the full scope of the law,” he said.

Ann Vanstone, a state independent commission on corruption, confirmed that Ellis had been charged with 23 deceptions against his country’s MP travel claims.

In a statement, Vanstone said, “Usually, I don’t appoint a person charged as a result of my investigation, but in light of Ellis’ statement at Congress this morning, I could take this opportunity to do so. Appropriate. “

ICAC claims that Ellis made 78 fraudulent claims between May 13, 2018 and June 12, 2020, for accommodation allowances for members of the country totaling more than $ 18,000.

It is alleged that he charged for an overnight stay in Adelaide to carry out parliamentary missions when he was not actually staying in the city.

Ellis told Congress that the allegations against him were not evidence and his travel billing issues were careless.

“I have never cheated. The mistake in the billing form filled out by a relatively inexperienced member was exactly that,” he said.

Members of Narungga say he sits on the crossbench while he is fighting the accusation.

Opposition leader Peter Malinauskas said the Marshall administration was at stake and questioned why Ellis entered in the middle of the night.

Ellis is the fifth against the cost scandal after Stephen Knoll and Tim Wetztone resigned as ministers, Terry Stephens resigned as chairman of the Legislative Council, and Adrian Pederick resigned as a government whip. I’m a member of the Diet.

Parliamentarians also had to repay tens of thousands of dollars with falsely billed allowances.

ICAC continues to investigate travel fraud by other MPs.

Ellis was issued a subpoena to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates’ Court on March 31, 2021.

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