Uncertainty over Troy Bell’s political future adds to intrigue over Fraser Ellis, David Speirs

Three MPs face uncertain futures and the Liberal Party more tumult as serious issues envelop the state, Paul Starick writes.

One found guilty of stealing more than $400,000. Another found guilty of rorting more than $2700.

Another on extended leave of absence in the wake of footage appearing to show him snorting a white powder, which he says is a deepfake.

It sounds like the start of an outlandish joke. But these matters involve three state MPs, at a time when serious issues, like uncertainty over Whyalla steelworks’ future, are being discussed.

All were Liberal MPs. One was the state Liberal leader. It leaves an unwanted legacy for fledgling leader Vincent Tarzia to deal with, particularly as preselections for new Liberal candidates are now being conducted.

The facts of the three MPs’ situations are different.

Mount Gambier MP Troy Bell leaving the Adelaide District Court in June. Picture: NewsWire / Roy VanDerVegt

Mount Gambier MP Troy Bell on Thursday was found guilty of 20 counts of theft and five counts of dishonest dealings with documents.

It was alleged Bell took more than $436,000 from the not-for-profit Independent Learning Centre (ILC) and used the money on home renovations, flights to Los Angeles and to offset his mortgage.

Bell is yet to be sentenced and his legal representative told the jury the prosecution’s case had “more holes than a Balfours crumpet”.

Narungga MP Fraser Ellis outside the Adelaide Magistrates Court in July. Picture: NewsWire / David Mariuz

His fellow independent MP Fraser Ellis, also a former Liberal, in July was found guilty of four counts of rorting $2738 from a parliamentary country members’ allowance.

He is appealing and has yet to be sentenced. In August, he was given a temporary stay of execution from being booted from parliament.

Former Liberal leader David Speirs is continuing to take a leave of absence from parliament for mental health reasons, having on September 11 issued a statement about his future, in which he said he “must take some time to focus on my own health and wellbeing as any other person should”.

Footage showing former Liberal leader David Speirs appearing to snort a white powder, which he says is a deepfake.

The circumstances of these three MPs are, quite clearly, very different. Arguably they would have all been sacked by now if they were in the private sector.

Self-evidently, though, they are not devoting their entire energy to their jobs of serving their electorates.

This is not to question their work ethic or their popularity with voters.

Mr Bell has been re-elected twice since he was charged in 2017 after an investigation by the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

Mr Ellis was re-elected in 2022 in his Yorke Peninsula seat of Narungga after charges were laid in 2021.

Mr Speirs has proven campaign success in his southwestern Adelaide seat of Black.

Regardless, their capacity to do their jobs has been diminished at a critical time, when their employment statuses are in an uncomfortable limbo.

Legal and parliamentary proceedings will decide the fate of Bell and Ellis.

But Mr Speirs has yet to respond to Mr Tarzia’s challenge to report the footage of him appearing to sniff a white powder to police if it is fake.

“I asked him point blank: ‘Is this footage fake?’. He said: ‘Yes.’ I said: ‘Well you need to report that to the authorities’ and that’s what I’m hoping he does,” Mr Tarzia said of Mr Speirs, on September 10.

Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia during parliamentary question time. Picture: NewsWire / Roy VanDerVegt

Bell’s future as an MP is the most precarious. Mr Tarzia, who was installed in the leadership by the party’s dominant conservative faction, now faces the prospect of one of its favourite sons replacing Bell in Mount Gambier.

Upper house member Ben Hood was defeated by Bell by more than 5800 votes at the 2022 state election. Mr Hood is almost certain to be the Liberal candidate if Bell vacates the seat and, in the absence of a popular independent, is likely to win.

Conservative powerbroker Alex Antic enthuses, in a newsletter issued on Thursday, about Mr Hood as “a conviction politician”. He and fellow federal MP Tony Pasin view Mr Hood as a future leader. This creates even more challenges for Mr Tarzia, who has maintained a relentless energy amid multiple distractions since winning the top job.

The tumult within the Liberal Party is continuing, thanks to three MPs with uncertain futures.

Originally published as Uncertainty over Troy Bell’s political future adds to intrigue over Fraser Ellis, David Speirs