Opposition leader David Speirs says he’d like to see a ‘pathway back’ for ex-Liberal MPs

The new opposition leader says he’s already spoken to three ex-Liberal MPs about a party return – despite two of them still facing criminal charges.

Newly elected opposition leader David Speirs says he would be open to a Liberal party return for three former MPs – two of whom are facing legal battles over their conduct.

Mr Speirs said he has already held conversations with the three crossbenchers, including Mount Gambier MP Troy Bell, Narungga MP Fraser Ellis and Kavel MP Dan Cregan.

Mr Bell and Mr Ellis are facing criminal charges, and have denied any wrongdoing.

“If it works for them I would love to create a pathway back to the parliamentary Liberal party for those guys, that would boost our numbers back straight away,” Mr Spiers told FIVEaa on Wednesday.

“Clearly they were strongly endorsed by their communities … and so I will certainly be extending the hand of friendship and the hand of collegiality to these people and already have done.”

Newly elected Liberal leader David Speirs. Picture via NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

Mr Cregan quit the Liberal party in October 2021 and was overwhelmingly re-elected as an independent for his Hills seat at the state election.

Mr Cregan cited the state’s failure to plan for a massive population growth in the Hills as part of his reasons for running as an independent.

Dan Cregan on the floor of the House of Assembly in parliament, after he was elected Speaker of the House last year. Picture Emma Brasier

Mr Bell resigned from the Liberal party in 2017 after he was charged with allegedly stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxpayers money after an investigation by the former Independent Commissioner Against Corruption.

Independent MP Troy Bell at Mount Gambier Hospital. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

He was further charged with having committed more than 50 deception charges from 2015 to April 2020.

Mr Bell will face court again in May and he was re-elected as an independent for Mt Gambier in 2022.

Mr Ellis resigned from the Liberal party in February 2021 after he was charged with allegedly rorting the country members’ accommodation allowance.

Fraser Ellis outside the Adelaide Magistrates Court in May last year. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

He is currently facing 23 counts of deception, and is alleged to have made 78 fraudulent claims totalling $18,000 in another investigation by the anti-corruption watchdog.

He will face court again in June.

Mr Speirs said no offers had been made to the three former Liberal MPs.

“I already have had conversations with all three of them since the election and will continue to do so, I haven’t made them any offers, I don’t plan to do that in the short term, but I would love to see those guys feel that they can come back to the party in due course if that can be possible,” he said.

“There’s a couple of issues where court cases and charges are being worked through for two of those guys but hopefully that can be worked through.”