From ‘never, never, never’ to ‘guilty’: How the David Speirs drug case played out in the headlines, in public, and in the courtroom

How did the alternative premier of SA end up in a court, admitting he supplied drugs? It’s a tale of multiple videos, press conferences and legal hearings.

• David Speirs makes shock plea

In September 2024, David Speirs flatly denied the existence of a video depicting him snorting a line of white powder, through a rolled-up $5 note, on his kitchen bench.

“No, no way … no, definitely not … I would never have done that … never, never, never … I’m quite horrified by that,” the former Liberal Opposition leader told The Advertiser.

Later the same day he doubled down, threatening a criminal defamation prosecution and labelling the video – later confirmed as authentic by an expert – as a “deepfake”.

“I am extremely disappointed by this and assure South Australians that I would never take illicit substances, I never have and I never will,” he said.

On Thursday, Speirs stood in the dock of the Adelaide Magistrates Court with his hands folded behind his back and pleaded guilty to drug supply charges.

His lawyer volunteered to enter the pleas on his behalf, but Magistrate Brian Nitschke said Speirs should speak for himself.

Asked if he had supplied a controlled drug, other than cannabis, to another person between August 1 and 10, 2024, Speirs replied: “Guilty.”

Asked if he had committed the same offence, but with a second and separate person, between the same dates, he again replied: “Guilty.”

David Speirs leaves court after pleading guilty to two counts of supplying a controlled drug to another person. Picture: RoyVPhotography

By his pleas, Speirs admitted he had supplied controlled drugs – a crime carrying a maximum $50,000 fine or a 10-year jail term – while serving in parliament as Opposition leader.

The dates of his offences correlate with the annual SA Midwinter Ball, at which Speirs gave a speech to gathered politicians, staff and members of the media.

They bookended his decision to resign the leadership on August 8, 2024, when he famously remarked he’d “had a gutful” of being undermined.

The charges also postdate the video, which was date-stamped as having been recorded on June 30 of that same year.

Hours after the video was recorded, Speirs appeared before the media to give a press conference about GP payroll tax.

Thursday’s hearing represents another chapter in the professional downfall of Speirs, who took over the party in the wake of its disastrous 2022 state election showing.

He served as the alternative premier for 839 days, casting himself as a battling outsider from the southern suburbs – drawing the ire of traditional Liberal supporters.

Speirs’ press conferences and speeches became known for their snarky, and at times rude, tone toward traditional supporters like hoteliers, while some bemoaned his lack of clear policy.

His preferred target was ramping, and he wasted no opportunity to criticise Premier Peter Malinauskas over his purported “failure” to fix the ongoing crisis.

And then, Speirs was gone – announcing, in the middle of his offending period, that he lacked the energy to fight on.

“I took on the leadership of this part when it was in the depths of despair in March 2022 following the election,” he said.

“I think I’ve made a fairly good attempt to consolidating the party, uniting the part and moving it into the future.

“To be honest, I’ve just had a gutful and I don’t have the energy to fight for a leadership that, quite frankly, in the current circumstances, I just don’t want to pursue anymore.

“I was probably a different type of leader for the Liberal Party, a different background … the party’s never been led by someone from the southern suburbs before.

“I think I brought something different … was it too soon for me to lead the party, or was the party simply not ready for me to lead it?”

Speirs was replaced by Vincent Tarzia – who, in an ironic twist, was dropping his colleague home in his government car the morning The Advertiser asked about the video.

In the weeks and months since, the erstwhile leader has been anything but quiet.

Spiers was arrested, at Berri, on September 26, 2024 – but that was not publicly revealed until October 5.

He responded by posting a video on social media, in which he announced his resignation from both parliament and the Liberal Party.

“Since allegations of illicit substance use in my home became public, our home has been raided by armed police and I was arrested and I was questioned,” he said.

“I believe there’s someone pretty sinister behind this.

“And while I am personally devastated by what has happened and I will fight to clear my name of any allegations, I’m equally concerned about what is actually the use of state government power against someone who is a political opponent.”

Mr Malinauskas called on Mr Tarzia to “rule out” any impropriety by SA Police – which the new leader promptly did – and the assertions never featured in Speirs’ court hearings.

Instead, he asked for permission to travel overseas while on bail, then gave an impromptu press conference outside the Christies Beach Magistrates Court.

“I didn’t need to leave parliament,” he said.

“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.”

Earlier this month, prosecutors confirmed they would be pursuing two charges against Speirs, both of which he pleaded guilty to on Thursday.

By agreement with prosecutors, Speirs will be sentenced in the Magistrates Court which, by law, potentially exposes him to a much-lesser penalty that that prescribed by the legislation.

He will face sentencing submissions in two weeks’ time and, outside court, was less talkative than at prior hearings.

“For me, this is about bringing the matter to a conclusion as quickly as possible, that’s the best thing for me at a personal level, and that’s why I’m taking this approach,” he said.

“I am focused on moving through this process as quickly as possible and that has influenced the approach that I’m taking.

“So I’m not going to make any further comment today … I’d like the cameramen to move out of the way and let me get on with my day.”