Former SA Liberal leader David Speirs expected to formally resign from parliament from Tuesday

Former Liberal leader David Speirs, who has been charged with supplying a controlled substance, is about to formally quit parliament.

Former Liberal leader David Speirs is expected to formally resign from state parliament as soon as Tuesday, after being charged with supplying a controlled substance.

Mr Speirs, who has denied any wrongdoing and vowed to clear his name, is considered unlikely to enter parliament to give a final speech.

Instead, senior sources said Mr Speirs was expected to send a formal resignation letter to Speaker Leon Bignell – an option available under the state constitution.

In a video statement on October 5, Mr Speirs revealed he had been arrested and his home raided by armed police. His Liberal membership has been suspended.

Former Liberal leader David Speirs in his video statement. Picture: Facebook/Supplied.

The by-election will be triggered by Mr Speirs’ resignation – in his video statement he said he intended “to step down formally from parliament in the next sitting week”, starting on Tuesday.

Speaker Leon Bignell told The Advertiser his advice was the resignation was “effective at the time of receipt by the Speaker” and the letter could be either “personally delivered or transmitted by other means”.

Mr Bignell said he had yet to receive Mr Speirs’ resignation but understood from his video statement this would be sent this week.

He said outgoing MPs were able to personally pack up their offices or get someone else to do it for them.

University of Adelaide Professor John Williams, a constitutional law expert, said MPs resigned “by writing under his or her hand”, according to section 30 of the state constitution, and this included an effective resignation date.

Liberal candidate for Black Amanda Wilson with Liberal leader Vincent Tarzia. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Both the Liberal and Labor parties have already announced candidates for the by-election to replace Mr Speirs in the southwestern Adelaide seat of Black.

They are Holdfast Bay mayor Amanda Wilson (Liberal) and senior Sacred Heart College teacher Alex Dighton (ALP), who ran against Mr Speirs at the 2022 state election.

Mr Speirs’ first court appearance to face the drugs charges has been set for November 15 – which falls on the day before a possible by-election date.

Ms Wilson, who joined the Liberal Party on Friday, has revealed she briefly was a Greens member almost 20 years ago and claimed Premier Peter Malinauskas asked her to run in neighbouring Gibson in 2022.

Mr Dighton, who on October 8 was announced as Labor’s candidate, has been a Sacred Heart teacher for about 15 years, holding various leadership roles, including acting deputy principal.

Originally published as Former SA Liberal leader David Speirs expected to formally resign from parliament from Tuesday