David Speirs, the former Opposition Leader in South Australia, has announced his resignation from parliament following his arrest in September 2024. The 72-year-old was charged with two counts of supplying a controlled substance in August 2024. The charges stem from alleged incidents that took place on August 2, 3, and 9. His arrest on September 26 led to the search of his residence, but Speirs was granted police bail and will appear in court at a later date.
In an emotional video posted on social media, Speirs revealed that his mental health had significantly declined following his resignation from the Opposition Leader role in August 2024. Speirs also referenced an earlier incident, where a video allegedly showing him sniffing powder was published by The Advertiser in September. At the time, Speirs had dismissed the video as a “deepfake” or a hoax.
Speirs explained that he had been struggling with personal issues and had spent time with people who did not bring out the best in him. He acknowledged that the public scrutiny and recent allegations had impacted his mental health, and he expressed a desire to take a step back from public life. He revealed that his home had been raided by armed police, and he had been arrested and questioned about the drug-related allegations.
“I’ve not been the best version of myself,” Speirs admitted in the video. “I’ve spent time with people who did not bring out the best in me. Since allegations of illicit substance use in my home became public, my home has been raided by armed police, and I was arrested and questioned.”
Speirs stated that he would not be able to continue effectively serving his community while dealing with his mental health and legal matters. He explained that it was time for him to move on from parliament to focus on rebuilding himself and becoming a better person.
Following Speirs’ announcement, Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia confirmed that he had been informed of the decision and expressed his concerns about Speirs’ mental health. Tarzia acknowledged that Speirs was facing a challenging situation and respected his decision. The resignation of Speirs, who represented the southern suburbs seat of Black, will trigger a by-election. Currently, the Liberal Party holds a 2.8% margin in the seat, but Speirs’ absence may make the seat more vulnerable to Labor.
Speirs has suspended his membership from the Liberal Party while addressing his legal situation, but he reaffirmed his commitment to Liberal values and principles. He also announced that he would not be making any further public statements and requested privacy for himself and his family as they navigated through this difficult time.
Speirs’ resignation marks the end of his political career for the time being as he focuses on resolving the legal issues and seeking personal healing away from the public eye.