Liberal MP Fraser Ellis questions the handling of an ICAC probe he is caught up in

A Liberal MP under investigation over a controversial travel allowance has accused the outgoing head of SA’s anti-corruption watchdog of acting inappropriately.

• Liberal MP Jing Lee defends connection with Beijing-backed group
• Want a better, smoother reading experience? Try our app today
• New Speaker and President elected amid controversy

One of the three Liberal MPs who stalled handing over documents to Bruce Lander has accused the former independent Commissioner Against Corruption of acting inappropriately by meeting a political opponent.

Mr Lander last month agreed to meet Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas, who was seeking clarity on his investigation into a travel rorts scandal and news that some MPs were not handing over documents, arguing they may be covered by parliamentary privilege.

Liberal MP Fraser Ellis questioned the meeting during a speech in State Parliament yesterday.

“It is difficult to see how that is not entirely inappropriate,” Mr Ellis said.

“Can you imagine how someone in my position feels, where a political opponent who is publicly attacking you and calling you a criminal gets advice from the person conducting the investigation?”

Mr Ellis argued reporting on the allowance scandal should have been banned

“The whole point of requiring corruption investigations to be conducted in private was to protect undue harm being done to the reputation of a person while under investigation,” he said. “Unfortunately, I have not had that benefit.”

Mr Lander said last month some MPs had refused to hand over documents he had requested as part of his investigation into potential rorts of the country members accommodation allowance.

His replacement, former Supreme Court judge Ann Vanstone, said on Monday she would accept a “narrower group of documents”.

Mr Ellis said the decision vindicated his position. “She seeks similar information in a manageable way, which allows me to comply with her request,” he said. “I am actively compiling documents that she seeks – as I always said I would do – and will provide them to her as soon as I can. I am enjoying the breath of fresh air that the new commissioner has provided.”

In July, Mr Ellis agreed to pay back more than $42,000 in travel claims, blaming a change in the benefit’s criteria for the potential bungle.

Mr Ellis’s speech coincided with news he had resigned from a parliament committee that looks into crime and public integrity. Opposition legal affairs spokesman Kyam Maher said Mr Ellis should have stood down when it was confirmed ICAC was conducting a “criminal” inquiry.