Steven Marshall axes four of his frontbench

Premier Steven Marshall has swung the axe, announcing the forced resignation of three ministers and his upper house president.

South Australia’s former Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Stephan Knoll in May. Picture: AAP

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall has swung the axe, announcing the forced resignation of three ministers and his upper house president as the state Liberal government reels from a travel rorts scandal.

The removal of the four frontbench MPs is a body blow to the SA Liberals’ conservative faction and country base, with all four MPs hailing from regional SA and their departure concentrating the party’s authority in the hands of city-based moderate MPs.

With the Premier riding high in the polls over his diligent management of the pandemic, Mr Marshall made it clear on Sunday that he was fed up with the distraction of the scandal, which is now the subject of a full-blown ICAC inquiry into all expense claims made by country MPs over the past decade.

At issue are hundreds of thousands of dollars in dubious expense claims made by country MPs who argued last week they were confused by a 2018 remuneration tribunal rule change that stated MPs could claim the $234 travel allowance only if they had actually incurred genuine expenses while travelling.

Former Member for Chaffey Tim Whetstone.

Former Liberal MP David Ridgway. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

The man who — until Sunday — was regarded as a future Liberal leader, now-departed transport minister Stephan Knoll — bore the brunt of public ridicule and opposition attacks on the claims.

The Barossa Valley MP announced last week he would repay almost $30,000 in travel claims he had made while staying at his parents’ house in the CBD, saying he was paying board to his parents but refusing to divulge the amount.

It also emerged he had claimed the allowance while attending a concert by English DJ Fat Boy Slim.

Two days ago, the Premier was standing by his ministers and saying the ICAC inquiry would address any wrongdoing. Fresh evidence of dubious behaviour emerged on Saturday, with revelations trade minister David Ridgeway had signed blank time sheets for his taxpayer-funded ministerial chauffeur so other MPs could be driven around in the vehicle.

Facing the slow burn of further leaks, and with ICAC likely to take months to report, Mr Marshall on Sunday announced that Mr Knoll, Mr Ridgeway, primary industries minister Tim Whetstone and Legislative Council president Terry Stephens had all stepped down.

“The distractions of the past week have been extraordinarily disappointing and unacceptable, and I have formed the opinion these cannot continue into the future,” he said.

Former Liberal MLC Terry Stephens.

Former Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Stephan Knoll. Picture: AAP

Relegation of the four MPs caps a terrible year for the SA Liberals’ conservative faction, with another fancied future leader, the now independent MP Sam Duluk, banished from the Liberal Party in February while awaiting trial on an assault charge arising from an alleged sexual harassment incident with female independent MP Connie Bonaros at a parliamentary Christmas party.