Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia sets trap for David Speirs over ‘deepfake’ white powder video | Paul Starick

Former Liberal leader David Speirs can’t dodge footage of him appearing to snort white powder forever, Paul Starick writes.

Former opposition leader David Speirs cannot hide forever from the bombshell footage of him appearing to snort white powder, which he says is a “deepfake”.

Fledgling Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia appears to have set a political trap for his predecessor, by insisting he report the matter to authorities if he believes the footage is a hoax. Mr Speirs says the video is “a deep fake or an elaborate hoax”.

“I asked him point blank: ‘Is this footage fake?’. He said: ‘Yes.’ I said: ‘Well you need to report that to the authorities’ and that’s what I’m hoping he does,” Mr Tarzia said.

David Speirs says he is the victim of a deepfake over the video, which appears to show him snorting lines of white powder.

Eventually too, Mr Speirs will have to turn up to parliament. After all, that’s his job as an MP. But his Liberal colleagues do not expect him to front for the week’s remaining sitting days, on Wednesday and Thursday.

Eventually, Mr Speirs will have to either explain the footage or report it to authorities. Either way, Mr Tarzia’s leadership is strengthened as Mr Speirs’ position is weakened.

Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia in parliament on Tuesday. Picture: Ben Clark

The-then Opposition Leader David Speirs speaks in parliament on September 14, 2022. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

Mr Tarzia has expressed genuine concern for Mr Speirs’ wellbeing, as have their Labor rivals. There is some humanity in politics.

But ours is an adversarial democracy. Labor is preying on the Liberals’ weakness by ramming through legislation – three lots by lunch time on Tuesday.

Premier Peter Malinauskas appeared sceptical of Mr Speirs’ claims about “deepfake” footage. Asked if the video and images should be investigated by police if they were a “deepfake”, Mr Malinauskas said: “There’s a big if there, isn’t there?”

Manager of government business Tom Koutsantonis bluntly declared Mr Speirs would be expected to attend parliament, “given his claims to have done nothing wrong”.

“If the images are deepfakes why miss parliament? He has already missed a week of parliament for a personal holiday.”

The ball is in Mr Speirs’ court. Without doubt, the footage is extraordinary. Eventually, he will have to act.