The seat of Black formerly held by David Speirs has been won by Labor’s Alex Dighton

Labor candidate Alex Dighton has swept to an emphatic by-election win over the Liberals in the seat of Black vacated by David Speirs.

• Analysis: Libs’ future blacker than Black

Labor has recorded a huge swing to win the by-election in Black, the seat of former Liberal leader David Speirs.

At the conclusion of counting on Saturday night, Labor candidate and Sacred Heart College teacher Alex Dighton had polled more than 60 per cent of the two-party preferred vote to comfortably defeat Liberal Amanda Wilson, the Holdfast Bay mayor.

It leaves the Liberals holding just 13 of the 47 seats in parliament’s lower house, after the party disastrously lost the seat of Dunstan at a by-election earlier this year.

Labor candidate Alex Dighton with Premier Peter Malinauskas on election day at Woodend Primary School, Sheidow Park. Picture: Brett Hartwig

In a concession speech delivered just after 8pm, Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia said Labor had run an “effective, short, hard” campaign and the Liberals must “respect the message that has been sent to us tonight”.

“There’s only one way forward … and that is to be better,” he said.

“We’ve got to be better, we’ve got to be united, we’ve got to be focused, we’ve got to be disciplined. We have 16 months to turn it around … we’ve got to make sure that we connect with voters right across the state.”

Labor by-election winner Alex Dighton arrives at his victory party at the Cobra Football Club with his family and Premier Peter Malinauskas. Dighton won the by-election over the Liberal candidate Amanda Wilson. Picture: Supplied

Labor by-election winner Alex Dighton speaking at his victory party at the Cobra Football Club. Picture: Supplied

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Mr Speirs, who is facing a drug supply charge that he has vowed to defend.

Mr Tarzia, speaking at the Brighton and Seacliff Yacht Club, said the circumstances that led to the poll were “unprecedented” and had caused the party damage.

“And it’s now time for us to heal as a team,” he said.

Ms Wilson, who will return to her position as mayor of Holdfast Bay, said she had wanted to continue Mr Speirs’ work in the seat, in Adelaide’s southwest.

“The reason why I ran is because I was concerned that without David there, that his legacy wasn’t going to be maintained,” she said.

She said she was also motivated to run because she believed in the importance of a strong opposition.

“You can’t just have one party that has so much control and that’s why I ran. I thought it was really important to provided a voice, to challenge the government,” she said.

She told Mr Tarzia: “I wish you all the best for your future and I know that you will make a great premier in due course.”

Liberal candidate for Black Amanda Wilson concedes the by-election triggered by David Speirs resigning from parliament. Pictured with Opposition leader Vincent Tarzia. Picture: Kathryn Bermingham

Liberal candidate for Black Amanda Wilson concedes the by-election triggered by David Speirs resigning from parliament. Pictured with Opposition leader Vincent Tarzia. November 16, 2024. Picture: Kathryn Bermingham

Mr Dighton was gracious in claiming victory, commending the other candidates for putting themselves out there for election.

“First and most importantly, to the people of my community, the people of Black, thank you so much,” he said.

“I’m very humble and honoured by the trust you’ve put in me to represent you and I’m certainly conscious that that trust is really significant.

“I want to dedicate myself to working hard for this community … making a difference in the lives of this community.”

Mr Dighton ran through a long list of people who had championed him through the campaign, from the Sacred Heart College community where he has worked for 16 years to his many volunteers.

“I’m so lucky and so fortunate to have the strength of so many people (in the campaign),” he said.

SA Liberal Leader Vincent Tarzia shakes hands with Premier Peter Malinauskas on by-election day at Woodend Primary School, Sheidow Park. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Premier Peter Malinauskas, in introducing the newest member of the Labor Party to join state parliament, said it was a “significant one”.

“Our firm focus is making sure that we use the power of government, we use the leaders at our disposal, to unlock all the magnificent potential this state has to offer,” he said.

“We need a team full of people who understand politics is never about the people in the parliament. Politics is about the people in the community.”

Liberal candidate Amanda Wilson on election day speaking to Melissa, 9, of Sheidow Park at Woodend Primary School. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Labor candidate Alex Dighton on election day at Woodend Primary School. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Earlier in the day, both the Premier and Opposition Leader greeted voters at the Woodend Primary School polling station in Sheidow Park.

Mr Malinauskas opened his press conference there by reflecting on how lucky South Australians were “to live in a part of the world where liberal democracy is relatively healthy”.

“We’ve seen democracy going through some challenges around the world in recent years,” he said. “But here … the electoral process enjoys widespread confidence.”