MEMBER for MacKillop Mitch Williams transferred $16,000 of his unused global allowance to independent MP Troy Bell and an Adelaide MP in a seat under threat from Nick Xenophon ahead of the March state election.
Mr Williams made two transfers of $8000 to Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell and the Member for Hartley Vincent Tarzia – the Liberal candidate for a suburban and marginal seat where the SA Best leader is running.
Unused global allowance, which is used for communicating with constituents and unable to be utilised for electioneering, can be transferred to other MPs.
From July to December 2017, Mr Williams used $13,625.92 of his global allowance, with a bulk of expenditure going toward software licence fees ($1684), postage ($1213) and general printing ($962).
While the global allowance is generally $54,000 each financial year, MPs were allocated a pro-rata sum of $41,890 for the 2017/18 period in consideration of the March election.
Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis said transferring unspent allowances across party lines was “unprecedented”, calling on State Liberal leader Steven Marshall to suspend Mr Williams from the party.
“Steven Marshall and the Liberals are not only funnelling funds to an independent who is running against a Liberal candidate, they are throwing financial support behind a member of parliament who is facing serious criminal charges,” he said.
“The Liberal Party constitution states membership may be terminated or suspended for conduct that is detrimental to the party’s interests.
“Steven Marshall needs to explain how one of his MPs funnelling money to a non-Liberal MP who is running against a Liberal candidate doesn’t constitute “an act or conduct detrimental to the interests of the party,” Mr Koutsantonis said.
Mr Williams said the transfer was part of a long-term commitment to the neighbouring Mount Gambier member to assist with ongoing region-wide issues and office expenditure.
“When Troy became the Member for Mount Gambier, I said to him I had been transferring money to colleagues over the years because I have little need for it,” he said.
“I’ve been the member for 20 years and there’s not many things I need in my office and with the amount of print media I have in MacKillop I can establish relationships with journalists to get my message out.
“Quite a significant number of people walk into Troy’s office, many of which are MacKillop constituents.
“Prior to the 2014 electoral cycle, Glencoe, Kalangadoo and Nangwarry were always in the seat of Mount Gambier and a lot of people from these areas would still think they are in the seat of Mount Gambier.
“It might seem very strange to Tom Koutsantonis and his colleagues in the Labor Party, but we stick to our word, and if we make a commitment, we honour that commitment.”
Independent MP Troy Bell supported Mr Williams’ comments, saying the transfer sought to benefit the entire region.
“Over a number of years, my office assists anyone who walks in the door and some of those are technically in the seat of MacKillop but they live closer to Mount Gambier,” he said.
“That is a drain on my office’s resources, but we do that regardless.
“We also take up issues we fight on a regional level like the 10 year ban on fracking and mobile phone black spots.”
Mr Williams defended his transfer to Hartley, saying he had previously transferred unused funds to former MP Joe Scalzi, who held the seat from 1993 to 2006.
“I have a long relationship with the seat of Hartley and I reckon I transferred my allowance nearly every year while Joe was the member,” he said.
“It’s through that connection that I transferred my allowance to Vince.
“My colleagues in metropolitan seats don’t have the network of media they can avail themselves of that I do in MacKillop.
“Their need to be able to communicate with their electorate effectively is more difficult.”
An Opposition spokesperson said Mr Marshall had no knowledge and did not support the transfer to Mount Gambier, but was aware of the Hartley transfer.
SA Best leader and candidate for Hartley Nick Xenophon did not respond to questions by press time.
