Speirs responds to Black rumours
Former Opposition leader David Speirs would not completely rule out rumours he would run as an independent in the upcoming state election, but said doing so was “not front of mind at the moment”.
Having recently returned from a three-month overseas holiday, former SA Liberal leader David Speirs has fallen back into the media cycle.
As reported by The Advertiser, senior Labor figures believe the ex-Member for Black is considering a tilt at his old seat in the 2026 state election as an independent.
It comes after Speirs was fined $9000 and handed 37.5 hours of community service after being convicted for supplying cocaine to two people.
He was sentenced in April after pleading guilty the month prior to two counts of drug supply.
He has since returned from an international jaunt – including a snowboarding stint in New Zealand.
Speaking to InDaily, the ex-Liberal leader said he was “not ruling anything out”, and supplied a statement which he said was “as definitive as I’m willing to be”.
“At the moment I’m concentrating on carefully rebuilding my life, healing and spending quality time with family and friends after a very difficult season,” he said.
“There are many different ways outside politics that I can contribute to my community and I’m enjoying doing a range of charitable activities, particularly in the environment sector.”
He said that on his return to Australia, the full extent of the harmful algal bloom – which is killing marine life off the coast of South Australia and impacting fisheries businesses – was made clear to him.
As a Seacliff resident, he has a front row seat to the environmental crisis, he said.
“As many know, my passion for conservation was a driving force for me entering public life in the first place,” he said.
Stay informed, daily
“That’s why this algal bloom worries me so much.”
While he would not rule out running for Black, he noted there were other avenues for him to engage politically like local council or Federal Government, should he wish to stand again as a politician.
But “standing for re-election is definitely not front of mind at the moment”, he said.
Speirs is set to hike the Kokoda Track later this month to raise funds for men’s mental health charities, which he said was his current priority.
