Travis Fatchen
Australian politician (born 1972)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Travis Fatchen (born 1972) is an Australian politician, and has represented the district of Mount Gambier in the South Australian House of Assembly since the 2026 state election. Fatchen is an independent politician, and had previously served as the office manager for Troy Bell, Mount Gambier's previous MP, for eleven years.
Travis Fatchen | |
|---|---|
| Member of the South Australian House of Assembly for Mount Gambier | |
| Assumed office 21 March 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Troy Bell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Travis Fatchen 1972 (age 53) Mount Gambier, South Australia |
| Party | Independent |
Early life
Fatchen was born in Mount Gambier, South Australia in 1972.[a][1][2]
Career
Fatchen has served on the board of the Mount Gambier Pioneers, as a team manager for the Apollo Football Club, and as a chairperson and judge for the local Automotive Industry Group.[1] Fatchen worked in the automotive industry for twenty-five years before working as the office manager for Mount Gambier MP Troy Bell's electorate office for eleven years.[1] Bell resigned from the House of Assembly in September 2025 after being found guilty of theft and fraud and having an appeal to the Supreme Court dismissed, leaving the Mount Gambier seat vacant, as the state election was scheduled for March 2026.[3]
Fatchen announced his candidacy for Mount Gambier in the 2026 election in October 2025, standing as an independent candidate.[1] He has advocated for local infrastructure upgrades in Mount Gambier, including the construction of a cancer radiation centre in the city.[2] Fatchen has stated his admiration for Bell, and said he was "genuinely shocked" by the findings in Bell's court case.[2] In an opinion poll for Mount Gambier conducted by UComms in January 2026, Fatchen had the largest primary vote, polling 30.2%.[4][b] Fatchen won the seat at the 2026 state election, becoming the new MP for Mount Gambier.[5]