Former Liberal leader David Speirs posts message about his future

Former Liberal leader David Speirs has broken his self-imposed exile to deliver a veiled message about his future.

Former Liberal leader David Speirs has left open his threat of quitting the party with a cryptic vow to “never stop advocating” for his constituents in his southwestern Adelaide seat of Black.

Skipping a two-day Liberal strategy meeting, a casually dressed Mr Speirs posted a picture of himself behind his Hallett Cove electorate office desk on Tuesday afternoon.

He vowed to continue in state parliament but pointedly did not say whether he would continue in the Liberal Party, which he on Friday threatened to depart if those undermining his leadership were rewarded in a new regime.

The open-ended statement on his future intensifies a stand-off that threatens to cruel Vincent Tarzia’s fledgling leadership, with the pair not having spoken since Monday morning’s ballot.

Mr Tarzia trounced Josh Teague 18 votes to four, then swiftly denied having undermined Mr Speirs.

Mr Speirs posted a picture of himself at his Hallett Cove electorate office on Tuesday, skipping a two-day Liberal strategy meeting. Picture: Instagram / David Speirs

In an Instagram post shortly before 4.30pm, Mr Speirs said he was “enjoying a respectful reset back in my Hallett Cove office” – in a thinly cloaked dig at Mr Tarzia, who has promised a “respectful reset” of the Liberal leadership.

“I’ll never stop advocating for those who I represent in our state’s parliament,” Mr Speirs said.

“I’ve tried to stay as present as possible in recent years, despite being leader of the South Australian Liberal Party.

“But now that’s no longer part of my job description, my local patch will be seeing me around a fair bit more often.

“I hope they don’t get sick of me.”

Until Tuesday afternoon’s statement, Mr Speirs had broken self-imposed exile only to post on Instagram pictures of trees, landscapes and a bridge he opened in 2018 as environment minister.

It is understood he continued on Tuesday to not take calls from Mr Tarzia, although the pair had exchanged messages through intermediaries.

Mr Tarzia confirmed on Tuesday that he had “reached out to David” but would not reveal any details.

“The interactions I have with all my colleagues behind closed doors are private.

“Nobody’s interests are served when politicians only talk about themselves and each other.

Mr Tarzia reiterated that he and his team were focused on “the interests of South Australians and how to improve their lives.”

The Liberals on Tuesday started a two-day strategy meeting in Port Pirie but an absent Mr Speirs was understood to be spending time with family in his southwestern Adelaide seat of Black, ahead of leaving on Friday for Scotland to attend a relative’s wedding.

It is understood he Mr Speirs did not take calls from Mr Tarzia on Tuesday, although the pair had exchanged messages through intermediaries. Picture: Russell Millard Photography

Liberal powerbrokers speculated that Mr Speirs might be offered the shadow Treasury portfolio in a bid to stave off his threat to defect to the crossbench, made the day after he quit the leadership last Thursday.

Mr Speirs again did not respond to questions about his future or his support for Mr Tarzia.

In an interview with The Advertiser on Monday afternoon, Mr Tarzia said although the pair had “been in contact” they had not “had that one-on-one opportunity”.

Asked if he believed Mr Speirs wanted to stay in the Liberal Party, Mr Tarzia said: “I’ve got no reason to think otherwise. I want to see David remain in the Liberal family.”

In a bombshell threat on Friday, Mr Speirs declared it would be “difficult to remain in the Liberal Party” if the “two or three” people who undermined his leadership were rewarded in the new regime.

“I am not making that as an idle threat,” he said on FIVEAA radio.

“I’m not threatening to go to the crossbench today, but I will watch very carefully to make sure that bad behaviour isn’t rewarded, and the game playing isn’t rewarded because South Australians deserve better.”

Asked after Monday morning’s ballot if he had undermined the outgoing leader, Mr Tarzia said: “No, absolutely not”.

“David Speirs is a warrior for the Liberal Party,” Mr Tarzia said.

“He has my utmost respect and I want to make sure that we fight for his legacy.”