What Vincent Tarzia’s appointment as SA Liberal leader means for the party and David Speirs | Paul Starick

The instalment of Vincent Tarzia as leader of the SA Liberal Party will trigger a chain reaction, Paul Starick says, the crux of which will be the future of David Speirs.

It’s time for David Speirs to put up or shut up.

The former Liberal leader, who quit on Thursday, threatened the next day to leave the party if those who undermined him were rewarded in a new leadership regime.

It’s more than a fair bet that Mr Speirs believes his newly installed replacement, Vincent Tarzia, was among those who cruelled his leadership.

Vincent Tarzia was voted as the new SA Liberal leader on Monday morning. Picture: NewsWire/Ben Clark

This means dealing with the fiery former leader’s future will be the first major test of Mr Tarzia’s leadership.

But Mr Tarzia was emphatic on Monday morning when asked if he had undermined Mr Speirs, insisting: “No, absolutely not.”

Mr Speirs appears to have his phone switched off and has not responded to questions from The Advertiser asking if he supports Mr Tarzia and intends to be a Liberal candidate at the 2026 state election.

Serious questions now surround the future of ex-leader David Speirs. Picture: Brett Hartwig

He is said not to be attending the Liberals’ two-day strategy meeting, starting in Port Pirie tomorrow.

He has time to go if he wants. He is said to be leaving for Scotland on Friday to attend a relative’s wedding.

Many Liberals are glad to see the back of Mr Speirs’ leadership and do not share the confidence of deputy leader John Gardner that he will remain in the party’s ranks, rather than defect to the crossbench.

They expect he will not quit parliament altogether, thus forcing a by-election about 18 months out from the next poll.

Mr Speirs will, they expect, become an independent and represent his southwestern Adelaide electorate of Black.

As leader, he repeatedly emphasised his grassroots approach and vote-winning ability in the suburbs.

Another challenge for Mr Tarzia will be rewarding the Right bloc of nine whose votes propelled him to the leadership.

Liberal MLC Ben Hood is touted as a rising star of the party by the Right faction and could be installed as Shadow Treasurer. Picture: NewsWire/Ben Clark

Upper House member Ben Hood is viewed as a rising star by the Right and there is a push on to have him installed as Shadow Treasurer, replacing former Paralympic swimming champion Matt Cowdrey.

This likely would involve Mr Cowdrey taking over Mr Tarzia’s Infrastructure and Transport portfolio.

Mr Tarzia is likely to assume Mr Speirs’ role of acting health spokesman. The shadow health portfolio is held by Ashton Hurn, who returns from maternity leave from her front bench role in November.