By court reporter Loukas Founten

Photo: Tammy Franks said she was disorganised but never dishonest

MP Tammy Franks has apologised for failing to lodge tax returns for a decade.

The Greens Legislative Councillor is facing a fine and costs totalling about $50,000 for 10 charges of failing to lodge tax returns between 2001 and 2010.

Adelaide Magistrates Court previously heard she also had not lodged returns for seven earlier years but was not facing any additional charges.

Franks' lawyer Michael Heggarty told the court Franks was a person of integrity.

"We accept that this is not a trivial offence. At the time of the offending she was going through a very difficult Family Court matter," he said.

"She knows she had done wrong and she is a person of honesty and integrity. She made a mistake. She believed she had a defence. In retrospect, after hearing the evidence, she accepts her liability.

"This has not been an easy situation for my client ... it has been somewhat compounded by the very public nature of what has gone on."

Yes I was disorganised but I was never dishonest

Tammy Franks

Prosecutor Tim Griffin said Franks could be fined up to $41,800 for the offences and asked that she be ordered to pay prosecution costs of close to $10,000.

He said the court had the power to impose a much-lower penalty, but he asked it be higher than the administrative penalty the tax office would have imposed had Franks not elected to be prosecuted. He said that figure was between $5,000 and $5,500.

Mr Griffin said Ms Franks was of good character and had a history of doing good things in the community, but should have been aware of the need to demonstrate behaviour fitting of her public profile.

Outside the hearing, Franks apologised for her actions but said she remained committed to serving in the South Australian Parliament.

"I would hope that the recognition today that I was never dishonest, yes I was disorganised but I was never dishonest, will see me be able to ride that out and do a good job in the Parliament and the community as I have done," she said.

"It was probably one of the worst periods of my life and I'm sorry for the embarrassment I've caused to my party and to those who've supported me and my political career."

The court will impose a penalty next week.

Tax offender MP sorry for being 'disorganised' - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)