Tim Whetstone
Timothy John Whetstone (born 5 March 1960) is an Australian politician representing the seat of Chaffey in the South Australian House of Assembly for the South Australian Division of the Liberal Party of Australia since the 2010 election. Whetstone served as the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development in the Marshall Ministry from 22 March 2018.[1][2] He resigned from cabinet on 26 July 2020 after a scandal over parliamentary allowances.
Tim Whetstone | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development | |
| In office 22 March 2018 – 26 July 2020 | |
| Premier | Steven Marshall |
| Preceded by |
|
| Succeeded by | David Basham |
| Member of the South Australian House of Assembly for Chaffey | |
| Assumed office 20 March 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Karlene Maywald |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Timothy John Whetstone 5 March 1960 Keith, South Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Liberal Party of Australia (SA) |
| Occupation | Irrigator |
Background and early career
Whetstone was born in the state's South East at Keith before completing his schooling in Adelaide. He finished a tool maker apprenticeship at General Motors Holden and then went on to develop his own business building and restoring muscle cars and boats.[3]
Whestone was a project manager on the Moomba gas fields before moving to the Riverland in 1989 to purchase a citrus property and develop a vineyard on the River Murray.[3]
Political career
Whetstone contested the seat of Chaffey at the 2010 election for the Liberal Party, receiving a 20-point two-candidate swing from incumbent SA Nationals MP Karlene Maywald, to finish with 53.8 percent of the two-candidate vote.[4] The SA Nationals did not contest the 2014 election, which saw Whetstone win 75.1 percent of the two-party vote.[5]
Between June 2014 until the state election, Whetstone was the Shadow Minister for Trade and Investment, as well as being the Shadow Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing from 2014 to 2017.[3]
Following the 2018 election, Whetstone was appointed as Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development.[6]
In July 2020, Whetstone admitted to wrongly claiming travel expenses on 90 occasions, including several claims for accommodation in Adelaide at the same time as he was undertaking international or interstate travel, in what Premier Steven Marshall described as "extraordinarily disappointing" behaviour.[7] As a result, Whetstone resigned from the Marshall Ministry on 26 July 2020.[8]
References
- MacLennan, Leah (22 March 2018). "SA election: Who's who in the new South Australian Liberal Government?". ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
- "The South Australian Government Gazette, 22 March 2018, No. 20, Supplementary Gazette" (PDF). Retrieved 23 March 2018.
- "Tim Whetstone MP". Steven Marshall | Premier of South Australia. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
- Green, Antony. "Chaffey". 2010 SA election. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
- Green, Antony. "Chaffey". 2014 SA election. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
- Siebert, Bension (22 March 2018). "Marshall unveils new Cabinet". InDaily. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
- "Ministers claimed expenses for staying in Adelaide but weren't actually there". ABC News. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020."Three South Australian ministers quit cabinet amid expenses scandal". The Guardian Australia. 26 July 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
- "Three SA ministers resign from cabinet – Australian Associated Press". AAP. 26 July 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
External links
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Geoff Brock as Minister for Regional Development |
Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development 2018–2020 |
Succeeded by David Basham |
| Preceded by Leon Bignell as Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries and Minister for Forests | ||
| South Australian House of Assembly | ||
| Preceded by Karlene Maywald |
Member for Chaffey 2010–present |
Incumbent |