Liberal leader Vincent Tarzia admits winning Speirs’ seat of Black will be a challenge

Vincent Tarzia’s fledgling leadership faces its first major test as Speirs resignation sparks a by-election in his marginal southern suburbs seat.

Vincent Tarzia’s fledgling leadership is facing its first major test with a by-election now looming in the southern suburbs seat of former Liberal leader David Speirs.

Liberal Party state executive members met soon after Mr Speirs informed Mr Tarzia over the phone around midday on Saturday that he wanted to resign from the party.

Mr Tarzia said the state executive had now effectively opened its nomination process for a new candidate, with Mr Speirs expected to formally resign from the seat of Black when state parliament resumes on October 15, triggering a by-election.

At a press conference in Tranmere, Mr Tarzia admitted that holding onto the seat that saw a 6.5 per cent swing to the Labor Party in the 2022 election would be a challenge.

“Any by-election is difficult,” he said.

“David (Speirs) is a very good campaigner and would have high name recognition in that seat and I would say we certainly would be underdogs in this by-election and we’re not taking anything or anyone for granted.”

Leader of the opposition Vincent Tarzia arrives at a conference following David Speirs’ resignation. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Mr Speirs, who was elected to parliament on the same day in 2014 as Mr Tarzia, was Environment and Water Minister in the former Liberal Party led by Steven Marshall, and after the 2022 election loss, stepped up to take over the leadership.

In August this year, Mr Speirs resigned from the leadership role and Mr Tarzia was elected in his place.

On Saturday, Mr Tarzia said the last phone call he had with Mr Spiers was “around the 22nd of September”, adding that “obviously I was regularly checking in with David” after reports emerged about him sniffing white powder in his home.

Mr Tarzia said the phone call was the first time he was informed about the police attending Mr Speirs’ home.

“So today, obviously I have learnt that David Speirs has gone through a very challenging recent set of circumstances,” he said at the press conference.

“He’s informed me today that in recent times his home has been raided. He was recently questioned by police.”

He acknowledged Mr Speirs was now vowing to fight allegations and that his resignation was also related to his mental health.

Mr Speirs is expected to formally resign from the seat of Black when state parliament resumes on October 15, triggering a by-election. Picture: Russell Millard Photography

“David Speirs has made the decision, a very hard, challenging decision for him, but it’s in the interests of his own mental health and welfare, but also in the interests of his community and the parliament that he will resign from parliament during the next sitting week.”

When asked about Mr Speirs’ comments in a video released to announce his resignation where he referred to there being “something pretty sinister behind this”, Mr Tarzia said he was not sure about the reference.

“I’m not sure exactly what he meant by that, I’m not sure if he’s talking about someone in the government or whether he’s talking about someone in his friendship group,” Mr Tarzia said.

“I think he made it clear that it wasn’t someone in the Liberal Party. I don’t think it’s anyone in the Liberal Party, but I think it’s a matter for him.”

The Labor Party’s Alex Dighton, a former teacher, tried to win Black from Mr Speirs at the last election and gained 47.3 per cent of the vote compared to Mr Speirs’ 52.7 per cent.

A by-election battle will be fought on existing boundaries that cover the southern suburbs of Hallett Cove, Sheidow Park, Trott Park, Marino, Seacliff Park, Seaview Downs, Kingston Park, Seacliff and parts of South Brighton.

The seat was first contested at the 2018 election after being created from the southern ends of the former seats of Bright and Mitchell, both marginal seats for two decades and both won by the Liberal Party in 2014.

“It’s a very serious matter for someone with an over ten-year parliamentary career to come to the conclusion that the career has come to an end effectively,” Mr Tarzia said.

“It’s a real shame because I know that he has worked tirelessly on behalf of his community for over ten years now but he’s decided it’s in the best interests of the party and the parliament and also his local community for him to defend whatever is brought against him outside the parliament.”

He made it clear Mr Speirs was no longer associated with the Liberal Party now his resignation was ratified and that what he does next with his career is a private matter.

“I’ll be doing everything possible to make sure that we gain seats, that we don’t lose seats,” Mr Tarzia said.

Originally published as Liberal leader Vincent Tarzia admits winning Speirs’ seat of Black will be a challenge