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🇦🇺 Australia /Elections & Politics

Ex-MP denies knowingly acting dishonestly in parliamentary expenses case

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • Former South Australian MP Fraser Ellis faces sentencing after convictions on seven deception charges linked to the misuse of a parliamentary travel allowance.
  • His lawyer said Ellis accepted he made mistakes but denied knowingly acting dishonestly, while prosecutors sought a conviction and a short suspended prison sentence.
  • Ellis was convicted over 20 nights worth A$4,676 and will return to court for sentencing on Sept. 17.

Fraser Ellis accepts he was too casual with parliamentary travel claims, but his lawyers told an Adelaide court he did not knowingly act dishonestly. The former South Australian MP now faces sentencing on seven deception convictions.

The charges concern the Country Members Allowance, which helps regional MPs cover travel required for parliamentary duties. Prosecutors originally alleged Ellis dishonestly claimed 78 nights worth A$18,095. He was ultimately convicted over 20 nights worth A$4,676.

He accepted that he made mistakes and he was too casual in his approach. He maintains he did not knowingly act dishonestly.

· Scott Henchliffe KCEllis’s lawyer outlined his position ahead of sentencing.

Ellis was found guilty of four deception counts after a 2024 trial and acquitted of 19 others. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed those acquittals, and the Court of Appeal replaced three of them with convictions in July this year.

The totality of the conduct is simply more than taking from the public purse.

· James SlocombeThe prosecutor argued that the offending warranted a recorded conviction.

Scott Henchliffe KC, representing Ellis, rejected the suggestion that the claims formed an organised plan. He described the conduct as haphazard and asked the court not to record a conviction, instead seeking consideration of a good-behaviour bond. Ellis, he said, believes the outcome has damaged his reputation and has left him depressed.

Prosecutor James Slocombe argued the conduct was too serious to avoid a conviction. He said the court should consider public deterrence and impose a short suspended prison sentence. Slocombe also noted that Ellis paid A$24,130 in restitution to the House of Assembly before charges were pursued.

Your Honour needs to consider the need for public deterrence in terms of an appropriate sentence.

· James SlocombeThe prosecution sought a sentence intended to deter similar conduct.

Ellis entered parliament as Narungga’s member in 2018, aged 25, but lost the seat to One Nation’s Chantelle Thomas at the 2026 state election. Leaving court, he said he would wait for the decision. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 17.

Wait for the decision and see what happens.

· Fraser EllisEllis spoke to reporters as he left court.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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