UNDER fire Narungga MP Fraser Ellis has lashed the state opposition during parliament’s first sitting day since he was outed as being under investigation for corruption.
Mr Ellis, along with two other Liberal MPs, released a statement last week naming themselves as the subjects of a criminal Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC) investigation.
ICAC Ann Vanstone is continuing the investigation into the controversial Country Members Travel Allowance scheme, launched by her predecessor Bruce Lander in July.
In their statement, the embattled MPs also outed themselves as the MPs who had refused to hand over requested documents until after parliament ruled whether they fell under parliamentary privilege.
Ms Vanstone has since changed the documents she wants from the members, but Mr Ellis is still expected to encounter questions of privilege.
During a speech during parliament’s return from its winter break, Mr Ellis took issue with opposition leader Peter Malinauskas meeting with Mr Lander to discuss the investigation.
“Can you imagine how someone in my position feels, where a political opponent who was publicly attacking you and calling you a criminal gets insights from a person who is conducting what is supposed to be a private investigation?” he said.
“It speaks to the leader’s complete lack of integrity that he was even prepared to make such an approach.
“The whole point of requiring corruption investigations to be conducted in private is to protect undue harm being done to the reputation of a person while under investigation.
“Unfortunately, I have not had that benefit.”
Mr Ellis later said he had “never acted dishonestly and have never intended, in any way whatsoever, to dishonestly claim the allowance”.
“I vehemently deny any suggestion of any dishonesty at all,” he said. This was a genuine mistake on my part, for which I have apologised.
“I am genuinely and sincerely sorry, and have learned perhaps the hardest lesson anyone in this place can learn.
“Due to the harm unfairly inflicted upon me and my reputation thus far, I am desperately looking forward to clearing my name.”
Country MPs repaid more than $100,000 in taxpayer money at the onset of the Country Members Travel Allowance scandal, with Mr Ellis repaying more than $40,000 – the most of anyone involved.
Last Monday, opposition attorney-general spokesperson Kyam Maher supported Ms Vanstone continuing the ICAC investigation into the pollies perks saga.
“It is vital this investigation into alleged corruption continues so we can get to the bottom of what has happened here,” he said.
“South Australians have a right to know how their money has been spent.”