Former opposition leader David Speirs has announced his resignation from parliament in a post to social media following SA Police raids on his house

The former Liberal leader will quit parliament and suspend his party membership after being arrested and questioned when armed police raided his home. Here’s what he said.

Hi, everyone. This is going to be the hardest video that I’ve ever recorded. The last few months have been really incredibly challenging for me and that culminated in me leaving the leadership of the Liberal Party in August.

I have endured many pressures over the last few months, if not more. My mental health has been in significant decline.

David Speirs in a video statement he posted to social media. Picture: Facebook

The former opposition leader has announced he will quit parliament and suspend his Liberal Party membership following The Advertiser revealing SA Police had raided his house. David Picture: Facebook

I have not been the best version of myself. I’ve not been the best version of David Speirs. And I have spent time with people who did not bring out the best in me to be quite honest.

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

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.

You know, I could continue in parliament and I could defend myself while also working as an MP. But I don’t believe that I can adequately and effectively serve my local community while also dealing with this matter, protecting my mental health and supporting my family and friends who are gathered around me.

For me, it’s time to move on. I want to rebuild myself over the coming months and into the future. I want to be a better son, I want to be a better friend.

To be honest, I want to be a better person. That will take time. And I believe it’s best done away from public life.

As such, I do intend to step down formally from parliament in the next sitting week. I have informed the state Liberal leader at the party and I’m going to suspend my membership while I seek to resolve this matter.

But I certainly remain committed to and true to Liberal values and the cause of the Liberal Party, both at state and federal levels.

I want to thank my Liberal Party colleagues, so many of them who I’ve had reached out to me, wrapped their arms around me, support me and have sought to look after my wellbeing at this time.

Importantly, and I’m really pleading for this, I’d ask for privacy from me and my family and friends.

Since leaving the leadership of the Liberal Party, I’ve had immense media intrusion into my life. It has been really, really difficult and it has left me and family and friends fearful to even go to our own homes.

That has compounded my mental health challenges hugely and I hope, I ask, that this ends.

As such, I’ll be making no more public statements about this matter.

This statement is primarily for the community that has supported me and I hope it is comprehensive enough to answer your questions.

I’ve loved being a local member of parliament, I absolutely love the community that has elected me to represent it and I also loved being South Australia’s environment minister.

They were immensly fulfilling jobs and I hope that the legacy that I have forged in partnership with the community and with many other South Australians will remain for many, many years to come.

I’ve got lots of ideas that remain bubbling around in my head for the future of the state, and I hope that I can contribute... continue to contribute in conservation advocacy and fighting for our natural environment and coming up with projects and ideas for sustainability, biodiversity, conservation - things that I am so passionate about.

I also want to thank the hundreds of people who have reached out to me and sought to support me, shown me love and care over recent weeks.

I’m so, so grateful to be surrounded by many people, many wonderful people who have walked with me on this journey and who hopefully continue walking along side me for many years to come. Thank you, everyone for everything.

Originally published as Former opposition leader David Speirs has announced his resignation from parliament in a post to social media following SA Police raids on his house