Stephan Knoll

{{Short description|Australian politician}} {{About|the Australian politician|the German male curler|Stephan Knoll (curler)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}} {{Use Australian English|date=November 2016}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = The Honourable | name = Stephan Knoll | honorific_suffix = | image = Stephan Knoll, South Australia, 2018.jpg | alt = | caption = | office = Minister for Transport and Infrastructure | premier = Steven Marshall | term_start = {{start date|2018|03|22|df=y}} | term_end = {{end date|2020|07|26|df=y}} | predecessor = Stephen Mullighan | successor = Corey Wingard | office1 = Minister for Local Government | premier1 = Steven Marshall | term_start1 = {{start date|2018|03|22|df=y}} | term_end1 = {{end date|2020|07|26|df=y}} | predecessor1 = Geoff Brock | successor1 = Vickie Chapman | office2 = Minister for Planning | premier2 = Steven Marshall | term_start2 = {{start date|2018|03|22|df=y}} | term_end2 = {{end date|2020|07|26|df=y}} | predecessor2 = John Rau | successor2 = Vickie Chapman | office3 = Leader of Government Business | term_start3 = {{start date|2020|02|05|df=y}} | term_end3 = {{end date|2020|07|26|df=yes}} | predecessor3 = John Gardner | successor3 = Dan van Holst Pellekaan | assembly4 = South Australian House of | constituency_AM4 = Schubert | term_start4 = {{start date|2014|03|15|df=y}} | term_end4 = {{end date|2022|03|19|df=y}} | preceded4 = Ivan Venning | successor4 = Ashton Hurn | birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|30|2013|4|25}}<ref name="SMH"/> | birth_place = | death_date =  | death_place = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = | birth_name = Stephan Karl Knoll | party = Liberal Party of Australia (SA) | spouse = | partner =  | relations = | children = | alma_mater = University of Adelaide | occupation = General manager }}

'''Stephan Karl Knoll''' ({{IPAc-en|s|t|ɛ|ˈ|f|ɑː|n|_|k|ə|ˈ|n|ɒ|l}},<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fiveaa.com.au/show/jon-blake-podcast-26032018 |title=the pronunciation of 'Stephen [sic] Knoll' |work=Jon Blake Podcast |author=Blake, Jon |author-link=Jon Blake (broadcaster) |date=26 March 2018 |publisher=FIVEaa |access-date=4 January 2019 }}</ref> born {{birth based on age as of date|30|2013|4|25|noage=y}}<ref name="SMH"/>) is an Australian former politician who represented the South Australian House of Assembly electorate of Schubert for the Liberal Party from 2014<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/sa-election-2014/ |title=Schubert |work=2014 SA election |author=Green, Antony |author-link=Antony Green |date=2014 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation }}</ref> to 2022. Knoll served as Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government and Minister for Planning in the Marshall Ministry between 2018 and 2020,<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-22/sa-liberal-government-sworn-in-whos-who-in-ministry/9575712 |title=SA election: Who's who in the new South Australian Liberal Government? |last=MacLennan |first=Leah |date=22 March 2018 |website=ABC News |location=Australia |access-date=22 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://governmentgazette.sa.gov.au/sites/default/files/public/documents/gazette/2018/March/2018_020.pdf |title=The South Australian Government Gazette, 22 March 2018, No. 20, Supplementary Gazette|access-date=23 March 2018}}</ref><ref name="aap">{{cite news |title=Three SA ministers resign from cabinet – Australian Associated Press |url=https://www.aap.com.au/three-sa-ministers-resign-from-cabinet/ |access-date=26 July 2020 |agency=AAP |date=26 July 2020 |language=en |archive-date=27 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727232758/https://www.aap.com.au/three-sa-ministers-resign-from-cabinet/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and as Leader of Government Business in the House of Assembly from February to July 2020.

==Background and early career== Knoll attended Christian Brothers College, Adelaide, and the University of Adelaide, completing a Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing).

Prior to entering State Parliament he was general manager of his family's small business Barossa Fine Foods.<ref name="SMH">{{Cite web |url=http://www.smh.com.au/small-business/four-brothers-one-business-20130405-2hc8d.html |title=Four brothers, one business |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=24 April 2013 |access-date=31 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.barossafinefoods.com.au/ |title=Barossa Fine Foods: Smallgoods Adelaide - Australia's Most Awarded Smallgoods Maker |website=www.barossafinefoods.com.au|access-date=31 March 2016}}</ref>

He also served as State President of the South Australian Young Liberal Movement.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/YoungLibs/posts/641505955939962|title=Congratulations to Young Liberal Stephan... - Young Liberal Movement of Australia - Facebook|website=www.facebook.com|access-date=31 March 2016}}</ref>

==Parliamentary career== After his election in 2014, Knoll was appointed to the Parliamentary Committee on Occupational Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation.

In January 2016, Knoll released a booklet entitled "40 Reasons Why You Can't Trust Labor with Your Money".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.murrayvalleystandard.com.au/story/3659901/shots-from-knoll-hit-target/|title=Shots from Knoll hit target|last=Strathearn|first=Peri|website=The Murray Valley Standard|date=12 January 2016|access-date=1 April 2016}}</ref> Also in January, Knoll was promoted to Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Waste, Deregulation, and IT use in government.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-13/sa-opposition-announces-liberal-frontbench-reshuffle/7085076|title=New SA Opposition frontbench to focus on jobs, economy|website=ABC News|date=12 January 2016|language=en-AU|access-date=1 April 2016}}</ref> In February 2016, Knoll was appointed to the Parliament's Economic and Finance Committee.

In January 2017, fourteen months before the 2018 state election, Knoll was promoted to the shadow cabinet, taking on the portfolios of Police, Emergency Services, Corrections and Road Safety.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/daniel-wills-analysis-can-newlook-liberals-finally-wrest-office/news-story/a28094c4fa46afff4e1f4cea7671b7da |title=Daniel Wills analysis: Can new-look Liberals finally wrest office? |first=Daniel |last=Wills |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=23 March 2018}}</ref>

Following the March 2018 election, he was appointed Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government and Minister for Planning.<ref name="profile">{{cite SA-parl |pid=4847 |name=Hon Stephan Knoll |former=yes |access-date=19 August 2022}}</ref> On 5 February 2020, Knoll was appointed as Leader of Government Business in the House.<ref name="profile"/>

During Knoll's time as minister, a record $1.1 billion was committed for regional road projects and infrastructure upgrades across the state in the 2019-20 State Budget.<ref>{{Cite web|last=State|first=Growth|date=2019-06-27|title=Regional roads investment|url=https://www.growthstate.sa.gov.au/news/regional-roads-investment-to-help-save-lives,-improve-safety-and-build-regional-communities|access-date=2022-02-08|website=Growth State|language=en-AU}}</ref> This was the single biggest injection of new funding in a state budget for regional roads in South Australia's history.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-01-30|title=Govt flags delaying reforms after e-Planning guru quits|url=https://indaily.com.au/news/local/2020/01/30/govt-flags-delaying-reforms-after-e-planning-guru-quits/|access-date=2022-02-08|website=InDaily|language=en}}</ref> Knoll also advocated and secured the construction of twin tunnels to complete the North-South Corridor as part of the 2020 State Budget.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Martin|first=Patrick|date=10 November 2020|title=South Australia's debt to almost double as government spends big on roads and sport in 2020 State Budget|newspaper=ABC News|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-10/sa-budget-2020-unveiled-by-rob-lucas-amid-coronavirus-pandemic/12864044}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-12-01|title=Former SA transport minister Stephan Knoll to quit at 2022 election|language=en-AU|work=ABC News|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-01/former-sa-transport-minister-stephan-knoll-to-quit/12940358|access-date=2022-02-08}}</ref>

During his tenure as Planning Minister, Knoll navigated the rolling implementation of broader system changes including the introduction of a statewide electronic planning system - the first of its kind in Australia. Phase 1 of the [https://code.plan.sa.gov.au/ Planning and Design Code] was rolled out in Outback SA on 1 July 2019,<ref>{{Cite web|author=Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure |date=2021-03-18|title=Planning reforms|url=https://plan.sa.gov.au/our_planning_system/programs_and_initiatives/planning_reforms|access-date=2022-02-08|website=PlanSA}}</ref> with Phase 2 (Rural) introduced on 31 July 2020 and Phase 3 (Urban) on 19 March 2021.

In June 2020, Knoll introduced the Local Government Reform Bill in Parliament.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Smith|first=Matt|date=June 17, 2020|title=State Government reveals second bid at rate capping in new council reforms|url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/state-government-reveals-second-bid-a-rate-capping-in-new-council-reforms/news-story/c02c9962fb859043b8bb829e594ba0a5 |newspaper=The Advertiser |url-access=subscription}}</ref> Key elements in the Bill were rate capping, the establishment of behavioural standards for councillors and reductions of red tape to improve efficiency and lessen the burden on councils. The Bill was passed in June 2021, with the omission of rate capping.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Legislation|first=South Australian|date=2021-11-22|title=LZ|url=https://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/lz|access-date=2022-02-08|website=South Australian Legislation|language=en-AU}}</ref>

In July 2020, as part of a broader investigation into a number of country MPs, Knoll was investigated by the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC) into the possible misuse of the Country Members Accommodation Allowance.<ref>{{cite news|title=Liberal MPs to pay back allowance claimed in error after ABC investigation, but Premier denies deliberate wrongdoing|publisher=ABC News|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-21/sa-parliament-changes-rules-around-expense-reporting/12477152|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref> Knoll resigned from cabinet on 26 July 2020.<ref name="aap" /> On 15 October 2020, the ICAC announced that there would be no further inquiry or investigation relating to some of the members of parliament, including Knoll.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-10-15|title=Investigation update: Country Members Accommodation Allowance|url=https://icac.sa.gov.au/public-statement/15oct2020|access-date=2020-11-29|website=Independent Commissioner Against Corruption SA|language=en}}</ref> Mr Knoll was found guilty of misconduct after attempting to sack members of the Adelaide Cemeteries board without authority.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-13/former-sa-minister-stephan-knoll-misconduct-ombudsman-finds/100373568 | title=Former SA minister committed misconduct, ombudsman finds | newspaper=ABC News | date=12 August 2021 }}</ref>

The Urban Renewal Authority, trading as Renewal SA, was within his portfolio responsibilities until 28 July 2020, when it was moved to that of the Treasurer, Rob Lucas.<ref>{{cite book| url=https://renewalsa.sa.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/2020-21-Annual-Report-for-the-Urban-Renewal-Authority-A1641151.pdf| page=12| title=Urban Renewal Authority (trading as Renewal SA): 2020-21 Annual Report| date=30 September 2021| author= Renewal SA| access-date= 17 December 2021}}</ref>

On 1 December 2020, Knoll announced he did not intend to contest the 2022 election.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Stephan Knoll - Stephan Knoll added a new photo.|url=https://www.facebook.com/372930172809791/photos/a.387837887985686/2866902620079188/|access-date=2022-02-08|website=www.facebook.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-01/former-sa-transport-minister-stephan-knoll-to-quit/12940358 |title=Former South Australian transport minister Stephan Knoll to quit at 2022 election |first=Isabel |last=Dayman |date=1 December 2020 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |work=ABC News |access-date=2 December 2020}}</ref> He retired from politics after the 2022 election. He now runs Sympatheia Strategic Advisory, a business advisory company.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Stephan Knoll | url=https://www.facebook.com/stephan.knoll.9/ | access-date=2025-11-23 | website=www.facebook.com}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef |before= Stephen Mullighan }} {{s-ttl |title= Minister for Transport and Infrastructure |years=2018–2020}} {{s-aft|after=Corey Wingard}} {{s-bef |before=Geoff Brock}} {{s-ttl|title=Minister for Local Government |years=2018–2020}} {{s-aft|after=Vickie Chapman|rows=2}} {{s-bef |before=John Rau}} {{s-ttl |title=Minister for Planning |years=2018–2020}} {{s-par|au-sa-la}} {{s-bef|before=Ivan Venning}} {{s-ttl|title=Member for Schubert|years=2014–2022}} {{s-aft |after=Ashton Hurn}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Knoll, Stephan}} Category:Members of the South Australian House of Assembly Category:Living people Category:21st-century Australian politicians Category:University of Adelaide alumni Category:1982 births Category:Politicians from Adelaide Category:Businesspeople from Adelaide Category:Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of South Australia