Opposition Leader David Speirs launches scathing attack on quitting MP Nick McBride

Liberal leader David Speirs has savaged rogue MP Nick McBride, saying the new independent had everything he’s ever wanted “handed to him” – and never had to put in work.

Nick McBride sits on the crossbench during Question Time in parliament on Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWire

MacKillop MP Nick McBride has “some sort of PTSD” about the Liberals’ time in government and his resignation was inevitable, Opposition Leader David Speirs says.

In a scathing attack on his former colleague, Mr Speirs also said Mr McBride “really hasn’t had to work to get where he’s gotten to in life”.

Mr McBride this week declared he was resigning from the Liberal Party and would sit as an independent, citing factional divisions which he described as “dark forces” that run the party.

Responding to the announcement, Mr Speirs said Mr McBride was a friend of his but there was “very little” he could have done to stop him leaving.

“The fact of the matter is that there was an inevitability about this ... Nick McBride has had a range of gripes with the Liberal Party for some years,” he said.

Then-premier Steven Marshall and then-environment minister David Speirs during the 2022 election campaign. Picture Dean Martin

“He has some sort of PTSD about that time, and Steven Marshall’s leadership in particular.

“I’ve bent over backwards for Nick McBride, I’ve gone to his seat seven times - more than any other regional electorate since becoming leader of the party 16 months ago.”

Mr Speirs went on to question Mr McBride’s work ethic.

“I’m disappointed with Nick’s conduct but I’m not surprised,” he said.

“Nick’s had a sort of life that I’ve not had. Nick’s had a life where he’s had everything that he’s ever wanted handed to him and, quite frankly, he really hasn’t had to work to get where he’s gotten to in life.

“Nick asks, and Nick gets ... and working as part of the Liberal Party just wasn’t Nick’s forte.”

Mr Speirs said Mr McBride had failed to build relationships across the parliamentary Liberal team or within his local branch.

“In fact, his closest relationship was probably actually with me,” he said.

Former Liberal Nick McBride at his offices on Grenfell St before quitting the party. Picture: Ben Clark

Mr McBride’s defection cuts the number of Liberal MPs in the lower house to only 15.

In parliamentary question time on Thursday he took up his new seating position as the fifth member of the crossbench.

The Labor government holds 27 seats, and 24 seats are required to form majority government in South Australia.

Mr Speirs said there was a sense of relief that the future of Mr McBride was no longer in question.

“The speculation that’s gone on for months and months, extending back to around September 2021, can now be put to bed and we can get on with being an opposition,” he said.

He said he was confident he had the support of the remainder of the partyroom.

“This has got a lot more to say about Nick McBride than it does about me and my team,” he said.

Mr Speirs also said Mr McBride had lost the support of his electorate, and added he expected he would have been defeated in a pre-selection challenge in the coming months had he remained a member of the party.