David Speirs was attending a charity ball and Hallett Cove track opening on days he is accused of supplying drugs
David Speirs is charged with two counts of supplying a controlled substance in early August, so what was he doing on those days?
SA News
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On the days former Liberal Leader David Speirs is accused of supplying drugs he was attending a charity function, the opening of a walking trail and a radio newsroom.
The Advertiser revealed on Saturday that police arrested Mr Speirs in the Riverland on September 26 – the same day officers raided his suburban Adelaide home.
In a statement to The Advertiser a police spokeswoman confirmed Mr Speirs was charged with two counts of supplying a controlled substance between August 2 and 3 and on August 9.
Mr Speirs sensationally quit as Opposition leader on August 8, saying he had “had a gutful” of the job, following months of mounting speculation.
The Advertiser has analysed Mr Speirs’ social media posts and alerts sent out by his media team to map his activities around this time.
On August 2 Mr Speirs held a press conference at 2.30pm in Oaklands Park criticising a record number of hours ambulances spent ramped at the state’s hospitals.
That evening he joined politicians, business leaders and reporters at the SA Midwinter Charity Ball, held at the Morphettville Racecourse.
Traditionally the leaders of both major parties address the audience candidly under Chatham House rules.
Photos from the evening show Mr Speirs on stage, dressed in a kilt and vest, smiling as he speaks to the influential crowd.
The next day, on August 3, Mr Speirs attended the opening of an upgraded popular walking track in his electorate.
He issued an invitation to the media to attend and later posted four photos to his Facebook page showing him in a white shirt and chinos, smiling and speaking with locals.
“It was an exciting day for my local community with the newly upgraded section of the Hallett Cove coastal trail finally opened to the public!” he wrote.
“I’m proud to have secured funding for this project during my time as Environment Minister, and it was great to see such a huge turnout from the community at today’s opening. See you on the trail!”
The following day, August 4, Mr Speirs held a press conference at the Arkaba Medical Centre, in Parkside, to again criticise the government’s health policies.
On August 8, Mr Speirs quit his position as Leader of the Liberal Party.
He held a press conference with journalists at 3pm at Glenthorne National Park.
On Facebook he wrote: “It’s time for me to sign out as Leader of the South Australian Liberal Party because for now I’m leaving frontline politics to spend more time with friends and family.”
Less than 24 hours after his resignation Mr Speirs went into the ABC Adelaide newsroom in Collinswood for a breakfast radio interview.
On exiting the ABC building Mr Speirs did not take questions from reporters waiting outside.
It wasn’t until September 9 that The Advertiser revealed explosive footage of Mr Speirs appearing to snort a white powder.
Mr Speirs denied it was him in the video and asserted it was a deepfake.
On September 11 he took mental health leave from parliament.
Speirs emigrated to South Australia from Scotland in 2002, with his parents and two brothers.
Prior to entering parliament he served as a councillor for the City of Marion from 2010 to 2014.
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