SA election 2022: David Speirs and Vincent Tarzia emerge as Liberal leadership team

Two men have emerged as the frontrunners for the Liberal leadership duo after Saturday’s election bloodbath, as Steven Marshall arrives at Government House to formally resign.

Former Liberal ministers David Speirs and Vincent Tarzia are emerging as the party’s new leadership team after the weekend election bloodbath.

Outgoing premier Steven Marshall on Sunday quit as the party’s leader and his former deputy, Dan van Holst Pellekaan, has lost his northern SA seat of Stuart to independent Geoff Brock.

Mr Speirs has said he is considering putting his hand up for the leadership but has not yet declared his hand, while blue-ribbon Liberal seats including Mr Marshall’s remain in doubt.

But senior Liberal sources told The Advertiser Mr Speirs, the former environment minister, was the frontrunner to take the leadership, with backing of the party’s Right faction and some of Mr Marshall’s Moderate group.

Former environment minister David Speirs. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Former police minister Vincent Tarzia. Picture: Matt Loxton

Steven Marshall arrives at Government house to formally resign as Premier after the election. Picture: Kelly Barnes

It is understood Mr Tarzia, a former police minister and speaker, is being encouraged to run as deputy with cross-party support.

A Moderate, Mr Tarzia is favourably rated by influential Right members for his hard work in his eastern Adelaide seat of Hartley, where he in 2018 fended off challenges from Nick Xenophon and Labor.

McKillop MP Nick McBride also has said he is considering putting his hand up for the leadership.

In a devastating result for the Liberals, Mr Marshall’s government was ousted at Saturday’s election in a landslide victory by Labor after just one term.

“A new government will be sworn in shortly,” he said in a statement on Sunday.

“While I am disappointed by the election outcome, I take full responsibility for the result and accept the will of the people.”

Mr Marshall said he had decided to resign as state Liberal leader.

“After nine years as leader of the Liberal Parliamentary Party it is time for someone else to lead the team into the future,” he said.

“I will step down as leader as soon as the party room is able to meet to elect my successor.”