Former Minister Stephan Knoll to step out of state politics
Once a rising star tipped to become a Premier, Stephan Knoll now says it’s time to place his focus on more important matters.
SA News
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Former minister Stephan Knoll, who was embroiled in the travel allowance scandal, will resign from parliament in 2022, to spend more time with his family.
Once seen as a successor to Premier Steven Marshall, Mr Knoll said he would not recontest the seat of Schubert.
The decision means he will continue to serve as the MP for the Barossa Valley and the Adelaide Hills-based seat until March 2022, avoiding the need for a costly by-election.
Mr Knoll told The Advertiser the past six months had put a significant strain on his mental health.
“In taking the roles I have held, it is inevitable that sacrifices were made by those closest to me in order to enable me to devote the time and energy to the enormous task my ministerial workload demanded,” Mr Knoll said.
“I have a choice to become either a better politician, or a better person to those closest to me. I am choosing the latter.
“With my daughters at primary-school age, now is an important time to be more engaged and present as a father.”
Premier Steven Marshall thanked Mr Knoll for his service to Cabinet and his electorate.
“The pressures of service are great, and they are increasing. I am disappointed that Stephan is not continuing,” he said.
“He has been a great colleague and friend. I understand and respect his decision.”
Mr Knoll resigned from Cabinet in July after he was caught up in a country members. accommodation allowance investigation by the former Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC) Bruce Lander.
When concerns were first raised about the use of the allowance, Mr Knoll revealed he would pay back $29,574, telling parliament a 2018 remuneration tribunal ruling added confusion to the system.
In October, Mr Lander’s replacement Ann Vanstone QC revealed she had found no “evidence of misconduct” against Mr Knoll, and eight other MPs while continuing to investigate other claimants.
— Stephan Knoll (@stephanknoll) December 1, 2020
“The past six months have been undoubtedly been some of the most difficult I have experienced, and it is important to acknowledge that at the time this put a significant strain on my mental health,” he said.
Mr Knoll, who served as the transport, infrastructure and local government minister, said he was most proud of his “reforms to the local government and planning sectors, building a pipeline of infrastructure projects and ensuring that tunnelling the North-South corridor was put back on the table”.
Mr Knoll struggled to sell a bold vision for the state’s public transport system that was scrapped in late June.
He was elected to parliament in 2014.
Originally published as Former Minister Stephan Knoll to step out of state politics
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