Convicted cocaine supplier and former state Liberal leader David Speirs retains Honourable title as Tom Koutsantonis says do the right thing

It’s an elite honour held by some of South Australia’s most highly respected citizens – and David Speirs. Should he keep it? Vote in the poll.

Convicted drug supplier, self-confessed liar and former state Liberal leader David Speirs has retained the privileged title of Honourable, awarded to some senior politicians.

Mr Speirs, who in April was convicted of two counts of supplying cocaine, was permanently granted the rare title in May, 2022.

Senior Labor frontbencher Tom Koutsantonis is challenging Mr Speirs to hand back his Honourable title – but neither he nor his lawyer responded to requests for comment.

Leader of Government Business Tom Koutsantonis has called on David Speirs to relinguish the title. Picture: NewsWire / Tim Joy

David Speirs outside court in Adelaide. Picture: NewsWire / Roy VanDerVegt

The Honourable title is held in office by the Governor, Premier, cabinet ministers, Supreme Court and Appeal Court judges, the parliamentary Speaker and upper house members.

The title can be retained permanently if minimum service criteria are met. Mr Speirs was granted retention, having served as environment and water minister throughout the Marshall Liberal government.

Mr Koutsantonis, the Leader of Government Business in the House of Assembly, said: “Mr Speirs should do the honourable thing his title implies – and relinquish it.

“The onus is on him to do this before the Crown is put in the awkward position of having to remove it.”

It is understood Mr Speirs’ title could be removed either voluntarily, or by the Governor, acting on advice from the Premier through the Cabinet Office.

David Speirs, right, arrives on April 24 for sentencing, Picture: NewsWire / Roy VanDerVegt

The Adelaide Magistrates Court on April 24 convicted Mr Speirs of two counts of supplying cocaine and fined him $9000. Magistrate Brian Nitschke also ordered the former opposition leader perform 37 ½ hours of community service within the next 18 months, warning he would be jailed for a day for every 7 ½ hours he failed to serve.

Speaking with The Australian ahead of his sentencing, Mr Speirs said he had fabricated a deepfake claim about a forensically-authenticated video of him appearing to snort white powder, published by The Advertiser on June 30, 2024.

Mr Speirs, 40, pleaded guilty to two counts of having supplied a controlled drug, namely cocaine, to two people in August 2024, before and after his resignation as opposition leader.

Liberal government accountability spokesman Ben Hood said: “With Tom Koutsantonis spending his time looking for dirt on former MPs, it’s no wonder South Australians are paying among the highest power prices in the nation.

“The Liberal Opposition is focused on listening to our community and putting forward policies that will improve their daily lives, as they rightly expect. How former politicians refer to themselves is hardly a priority issue for our constituents.”