New ICAC Ann Vanstone asks MPs to supply ‘narrower’ group of travel documents as investigation continues
Remote MPs can no longer claim reimbursement if staying with family and friends in Adelaide and they’ll have to get receipts – just two of the new rules Country MPs must now follow.
SA News
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A “second residence’’ allowance has been created for country MPs that will pay them $185 a night if they buy or rent accommodation in Adelaide. It follows an expenses scandal that has rocked the State Government.
The Remuneration Tribunal on Monday issued a determination which also said that MPs who stayed with family or friends would not be eligible for the Country Members Accommodation Allowances.
The furore over country MPs allowances has seen Stephan Knoll and Tim Whetstone resign as ministers and repay tens of thousands of dollars claimed under the allowance. Backbench MPs Adrian Pederick and Fraser Ellis have also returned money. MLC Terry Stephens also resigned as Legislative Council president.
Country MPs can claim a $234 a night allowance if they live more than 75km from the GPO and stay in “commercial accommodation”.
The new “second residence’’ allowance is set at a lower rate and MPs cannot claim both on the same night.
The new Independent Commissioner Against Corruption, Ann Vanstone, is continuing an investigation into the travel allowance claims started by her predecessor, Bruce Lander.
She said three MPs had agreed to submit a “narrower group of documents” as part of her investigation. The former Supreme Court judge wrote to solicitors representing Mr Stephens, Mr Pederick and Mr Ellis last week, requesting they voluntarily hand over the documents.
The trio has agreed to the new request, Ms Vanstone said, adding parliamentary privilege may still come into play for Mr Ellis – a Yorke Peninsula-based backbencher – depending on the “documents he discloses”.
“In the cases of Mr Stephens and Mr Pederick, the documents I sought relate to proof of their places of residence at relevant times,” Ms Vanstone said in a statement. “For Mr Ellis, the documents go to his incurring actual expenditure during nights he stayed in Adelaide and also to demonstrate a requirement that he be in Adelaide on the occasions when claims were made.”
Labor and the Greens argued the 75km limit should be extended to 100km but the tribunal knocked that back.
Labor treasury spokesman Stephen Mullighan said while he supported the new allowance, eligibility should start further from the city.
“It just makes it easier and more justifiable for members who live in places like the Barossa Valley or Victor Harbor to have the taxpayer effectively pay for a second residence,’’ he said.
Treasurer Rob Lucas supported the decision of the “independent umpire’’.
“We welcome the fact the tribunal has clarified what has been the accepted understanding by Liberal, Labor and independent members for decades,’’ he said.
