David Speirs makes first Adelaide court appearance on drug supply charge

Former Liberal leader David Speirs has been given the right to make an overseas trip in his first court appearance on a drug supply charge – and then got political.

• The video David Speirs called a ‘deepfake’

Former Opposition leader David Speirs has regained his passport under a $15,000 bail agreement that permits him to travel overseas while facing a drug supply charge – but must surrender the document to police upon his return.

Mr Speirs also used his first court appearance, on Friday, to deliver a three-minute address to the media thanking them for attending, saying he had missed them and urging voters to support Liberal candidate Amanda Wilson in Saturday’s by-election.

He expressed regret that Ms Wilson, the Holdfast Bay mayor, had been “subjected” to the “same Labor bullying” he had experienced during his tenure as leader – and insisted he did not have to leave parliament because of the charge laid against him.

Mr Spiers also said it wouldn’t be “appropriate” to discuss his appearance on Friday morning in Christies Beach Magistrates Court, following allegations of supplying a controlled substance.

Mr Speirs had earlier declined to comment as he entered the courthouse.

Inside, he and his solicitor Dominic Agresta spoke quietly in a hallway near the courtroom.

Mr Speirs then took a seat at the rear of the public gallery, closest to the door, while Mr Agresta spoke with a police prosecutor at the bar table.

When the matter was called on, Mr Speirs entered and stood in the dock while Mr Agresta asked a timetable be set for the progression of the case.

He also asked Mr Speirs’ bail be varied to permit him to travel overseas.

His proposed itinerary, destination and return date were not discussed in open court. Mr Agresta said his client had “not yet bought tickets”.

A police prosecutor told the court there was no opposition to Mr Speirs’ request.

“As long as his itinerary is provided, a cash surety is given and lodged, a guarantor is provided and he report to police upon his return, we are not opposed,” he said.

Mr Agresta said that left “just one minor thing”.

Former Opposition leader David Speirs arrives at Christies Beach Magistrates Court on Friday. Picture: NewsWire / Dean Martin

“He will require his passport and it’s agreed that’s to be returned to us today,” he said.

The prosecutor agreed, but said the document must be surrendered again once Mr Speirs was back in the country.

Mr Agresta initially objected to that request, but then said his client “will comply if that’s what’s required”.

Magistrate Todd Grant remanded Mr Speirs on bail, permitting him to travel overseas after lodging a $15,000 cash surety with the court.

He ordered Mr Speirs’ guarantor – his mother, Mary Martha Speirs – promise to forfeit an equal sum should he breach his bail conditions.

The bail agreement also bans Mr Speirs from “directly, or indirectly approaching, communicating with or contacting” two people – Peter Zubic and Andrew Peter Sampson.

David Speirs arrives at court to face a charge of drug supply.

David Speirs arrives at court to face a charge of drug supply.

In October, SA Police revealed Mr Speirs, 39, had been charged with two counts of supplying a controlled substance between August 2 and 3 and on August 9 this year.

Those charges arose from his arrest at Berri, in the Riverland, on September 26, and a subsequent search of his Kingston Park residential premises. They were eventually reduced to one charge.

The arrest was made public a month after The Advertiser published a video of Mr Speirs appearing to snort white powder in the kitchen of his Kingston Park home.

Metadata shows that video was recorded on June 30 – Mr Speirs claims it is a deepfake, but a top forensic analyst concluded it was “authentic” with no indication of tampering.

On Thursday, The Advertiser revealed Mr Speirs was now facing a single count of supplying or administering a drug, that was not cannabis, to another person.

That is alleged to have occurred between August 1 and August 10, 2024 – effectively encapsulating both of the originally-charged counts.

Outside court, Mr Speirs thanked the media for attending his court hearing, saying he “didn’t realise there were so many journalists in South Australia”.

“This has been a very difficult time for me personally, for friends and for family,” he said. “I do want to thank the many hundreds of people in South Australia who have been so supportive and reached out to see if I’m OK. It has meant a lot and it has actually sustained me.

“I didn’t need to leave parliament. It was no compulsion to do so but I couldn’t execute my responsibilities as a member of parliament and also deal with my mental health.”

Mr Grant ordered Mr Speirs report to police upon his return from overseas and face court in March.