Troy Stephen Bell (born 5 September 1973)[citation needed] is an Australian politician representing the South Australian House of Assembly seat of Mount Gambier. Representing the South Australian Division of the Liberal Party of Australia at the 2014 state election,[1] he became an independent in 2017, after being accused of misappropriating more than $2 million of public money.[2] In September 2024 a South Australian District Court jury found Troy Bell guilty of 20 counts of theft and five counts of dishonest dealings with documents after more than two days of jury deliberations. On 15 October 2024, Bell refused to step down in accordance with section 31 of the Constitution Act 1934, and vowed to appeal the conviction.[3]
Troy Bell | |
|---|---|
| Member of the South Australian House of Assembly for Mount Gambier | |
| Assumed office 15 March 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Don Pegler |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Troy Stephen Bell 5 September 1973[citation needed] Mount Gambier, South Australia, Australia[citation needed] |
| Political party | Liberal Party of Australia (SA) (2014–2017) Independent (2017–present) |
Early life
editBell held many positions within the Education Sector, particularly in rural areas of South Australia.[4]
Bell began his teaching career at the Port Augusta Secondary School. Bell then decided to move to Mount Gambier where he established the Independent Learning Centre at Mount Gambier in 2007.[4]
Political career
editBell was elected to the South Australian House of Assembly seat of Mount Gambier at the 2014 state election for a four-year term.[5]
In January 2016 Bell was appointed the Chair of the Liberal Party's Regional Affairs Committee.[6]
Bell quit the Liberal Party and became an independent on 17 August 2017 after being charged the week prior with 20 counts of theft and six counts of dishonestly dealing with documents. Resulting from the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC), it is alleged that between 2009 and 2013, Bell dishonestly dealt with more than $2 million of public money, and that he used documents known to be false, with the intention of claiming a benefit for himself. He released a statement claiming he is "innocent of these allegations of theft and dishonesty and will defend them in court". He intends to remain in parliament. Ahead of the 2018 election, the Liberals re-opened preselection in his seat[2] and instead endorsed Craig Marsh as the Liberal candidate for Mount Gambier. Bell announced he would re-contest Mount Gambier at the 2018 election as an independent candidate.[7][8]
The complaint was referred to ICAC following the 2014 election by then Australian Labor Party sub-branch President and Deputy Mayor of the City of Mount Gambier Penny Richardson.[9]
A ReachTEL poll of 655 voters in the electorate was conducted on 13 February 2018, a month before the election, which unexpectedly found Bell who is running as an independent candidate would easily retain his seat after preferences, strongly leading the primary vote on 36 percent. The Liberals were on 28.5 percent (−23.3), Labor was on 13 percent (+2.1), new SA Best was on 11 percent, others were collectively on 6 percent, with the remaining 5 percent undecided.[10] On 17 March 2018 Troy Bell was elected as an independent member for Mount Gambier[11][12] and re-elected in 2022.[13]
Criminal finding
editOn 26 September 2024, a jury found Bell guilty of twenty counts of theft and five counts of dishonest dealing with documents. He had been accused of stealing $430,000 from not-for-profit educational organisations.[14] Bell confirmed on 1 October that he would appeal against the guilty verdicts.[15]
References
edit- ^ "2014 SA election: Antony Green ABC". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 17 November 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
- ^ a b "hil-resigns-from-liberal-party/8818154 Mount Gambier MP Troy Bell resigns from Liberal Party, vows to fight theft charges: ABC 17 August 2017". ABC News. 17 August 2017.
- ^ "MP who stole $430,000 from children's charities vows to stay in parliament".
- ^ a b Morello, Sandra. "Likely Liberal candidate". The Border Watch. Archived from the original on 10 April 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
- ^ "Mount Gambier - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". ABC News. Archived from the original on 23 November 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
- ^ "New SA Opposition frontbench to focus on jobs, economy". ABC News. 12 January 2016. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
- ^ "Fraud-accused MP Troy Bell promises announcement soon on SA political career: ABC 11 December 2017". ABC News. 11 December 2017. Archived from the original on 15 December 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
- ^ "Fraud-accused MP Troy Bell to contest March election in SA as he vows to clear his name: ABC 15 December 2017". ABC News. 14 December 2017. Archived from the original on 15 December 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
- ^ Dillon, Meagan (8 July 2020). "Accused MP described ICAC probe as 'political witch-hunt' in tapped call, court told". www.abc.net.au. Archived from the original on 11 August 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
- ^ "Poll shows ex-Liberal MP Troy Bell facing a fraud charges will win Mount Gambier seat at March election: The Advertiser 14 February 2018".
- ^ "Serious criminal charges, but MP holds seat". www.adelaidenow.com.au. 17 March 2018. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
- ^ "Troy Stephen Bell". Members of the Parliament of South Australia. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
- ^ "Labor wins South Australian election after securing strong swing". SBS News. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ "A state MP has been found guilty of theft and dishonesty — will he stay in parliament?". ABC News. 27 September 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ Biggs, Harvey; Schriever, Jordanna; McClaren, Rory (1 October 2024). "Troy Bell confirms appeal after independent Mount Gambier MP was found guilty of theft and fraud". ABC News. Retrieved 1 October 2024.