Troy Bell and David Speirs expected to return to parliament on October 15 | Paul Starick

A man found guilty of stealing more than $400,000 and another apparently turning a blind eye to a vast conspiracy are expected to return as state MPs, writes Paul Starick.

A nefarious blackmail conspiracy targeting the alternative premier with a deepfake video is the logical conclusion of former Liberal leader David Speirs’ argument about footage appearing to show him snorting white powder.

Mr Speirs has maintained the footage, revealed by The Advertiser on September 9, “is a deep fake or an elaborate hoax”.

If this is the case, then the hoax was concocted when Mr Speirs was Opposition Leader – the video was shot at 4.12am on June 30.

The motive for such a hoax would be uncertain but it’s more than reasonable to suggest this would involve blackmail of some kind.

David Speirs and the white powder at his home.

Colleagues believe he plans to return to his parliamentary duties on October 15, despite thus far resisting demands from both the Premier and Opposition Leader to report the matter to authorities.

Surely one of the state’s lawmakers, if he believed himself to be the victim of a vast conspiracy, would be demanding a royal commission, anti-corruption investigation or, at the very least, a police probe.

The Advertiser commissioned a world-renowned forensic analyst, who examined the footage and two still images, and found nothing to suggest it had been manipulated, tampered with or altered in any way. Physical features - including ears and facial marks - noted by the analyst match Mr Speirs.

Whether the footage is a deepfake or Mr Speirs was sniffing a white powder, either alternative raises serious questions about whether he should continue as an MP.

The Advertiser has been told he intends to seek Liberal preselection in Black.

If he does, he surely will struggle to survive a candidate review process described by acting Liberal Party state director Alexander Hyde as “overhauled and strengthened” to create “ rigour and greater certainty for our grassroots members and the public”, in a process including oversight from Simon Ower, KC.

The-then Opposition Leader David Speirs speaking during Question Time in the lower house at Parliament House in June, 2023. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

More than just the Speirs saga will play out when parliament resumes on October 15, after a three-week break.

Independent Mount Gambier MP Troy Bell, who on September 26 was found guilty of stealing more than $400,000 meant for the education of vulnerable and at-risk kids, has essentially been given a free pass to continue sitting in parliament – at least for now.

This is because he announced on Tuesday that he had instructed his legal team to lodge an appeal.

A few hours beforehand, leader of government business Tom Koutsantonis said the state government had received advice regarding the verdict.

He said, if an appeal had not been lodged within the allowed 21 days, the government would have supported a motion to vacate Mr Bell’s seat of Mount Gambier.

Now that appeal has been lodged, ahead of sentencing, the government, which controls the lower house, has accepted that Mr Bell, a former Liberal, can continue as an MP.

Troy Bell is seen leaving Adelaide District Court in June. Picture: NewsWire / Roy VanDerVegt

The strongest Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia could muster in response was: “It is in the interests of the people of Mount Gambier that this matter be resolved as soon as possible. While I respect the legal process, the people of Mount Gambier deserve representation.”

They will be represented, at least for now, by a man found guilty by a 12-person jury of 20 counts of theft and five counts of dishonestly dealing with documents.

Keeping Mr Bell in parliament suits Labor. What should be a Liberal stronghold has been held by three independents since 2002, including Mr Bell.

One less seat in the Liberal column suits Labor. Plus Premier Peter Malinauskas has invested plenty of time and money in Mount Gambier.

There is plenty at stake for both Mr Bell and Mr Speirs. There seems no barrier to them returning to parliament, at least for now.

Would this be tolerated by their employers and workmates if they worked in private enterprise?

The answer is almost certainly not. Yet a combination of political expediency and tortured parliamentary processes makes it possible. No wonder people are disgruntled with politicians.