Opposition Leader David Speirs declares 13 properties in the latest register of members interests for the lower house

The opposition leader’s extensive property portfolio has been revealed - as has other MPs’ exclusive club memberships and shares.

Opposition Leader David Speirs owns 13 properties in Adelaide’s southern suburbs, while other MPs have declared membership of exclusive airline clubs and shares in racehorses.

Mr Speirs’ extensive property portfolio was revealed in the latest register of members’ interests for the lower house, which was tabled in parliament this week.

His homes are spread across Christies Beach, Brighton, Kingston Park, Inman Valley, Oaklands Park, Mitcham and Middleton.

Of the 13, six properties are co-owned with one or two other people.

Mr Speirs said he worked hard to buy his first home, and has added to his portfolio over several years.

“My family migrated here from Scotland when I was a teenager and we started from scratch here in South Australia,” he said.

“I love the southern suburbs and bought my first home there as a 21-year-old university student working odd jobs to get my foot in the property door.”

Opposition Leader David Speirs pictured at the Happy Valley Reservoir. Picture: Morgan Sette

Mr Speirs added he has looked out for those renting his properties during tough times.

“Hard work and good luck has allowed me to expand my interest and I take real pride in looking after tenants during this cost-of-living and housing crisis,” he said.

A government spokesman said “Mr Speirs’ property holdings are a matter for him”.

All parliamentarians are required to declare their interests — including land, shares, employment, travel contributions and political associations — every year. They are also required to declare interests of their spouse.

Many MPs declared multiple properties, including Premier Peter Malinauskas, who owns homes at Bowden and Hyde Park.

Mr Malinauskas listed the properties on a declaration form but they were initially left off the register due to an administrative error, which was corrected in parliament on Wednesday.

One of David Speirs’ properties.

Deputy Premier Susan Close declared three properties at Semaphore, Largs Bay and Ethelton, while Deputy Liberal Leader John Gardner declared properties at Athelstone, Prospect and Normanville.

MacKillop MP Nick McBride declared 13 land titles held by a family trust, including listings in Naracoorte and Robe.

Several MPs declared membership of the exclusive and invite-only Qantas Chairman’s Lounge, including Mr Malinauskas, Dr Close, Mr Speirs, Mr Gardner, Treasurer Stephen Mullighan, Human Services Minister Nat Cook, Health Minister Chris Picton, Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison, Small Business Minister Andrea Michaels, Dunstan MP Steven Marshall, Kavel MP Dan Cregan, Morphett MP Stephen Patterson, Hartley MP Vincent Tarzia, Torrens MP Dana Wortley.

And another.

… and another!

All Labor MPs declared membership of a union.

Among the most popular was the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association — the retail union — with members including Mr Malinauskas, Ms Bettison, Ms Michaels, Mr Picton, Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis, Planning Minister Nick Champion, Adelaide MP Lucy Hood, Elizabeth MP Lee Odenwalder and Newland MP Olivia Savvas.

Members of the Australian Services Union were Dr Close, Ms Cook, Child Protection Minister Katrine Hildyard, Police Minister Joe Szakacs, Gibson MP Sarah Andrews, Education Minister Blair Boyer, Elder MP Nadia Clancy, King MP Rhiannon Pearce, Giles MP Eddie Hughes, Waite MP Catherine Hutchesson and Davenport MP Erin Thompson.

Mr Boyer, Ms Clancy, and Ms Hildyard were also members of the United Workers Union, while Ms Cook is a member of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation.

Mr Champion is a member of the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union, and Mr Mullighan and Ms Savvas are members of the Finance Sector Union.

Playford MP John Fulbrook is a member of the Australian Workers Union, and Light MP Tony Piccolo has membership of the Transport Workers Union.

Mawson MP Leon Bignell, Badcoe MP Jayne Stinson and Torrens MP Dana Wortley are members of the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance.

Mr Bignell also declared:

• One square foot of land in Glencoe, Scotland
• A share in a racehorse named “Water into Wine”, which has had six starts in 2022 for three wins, a second and two unplaced races including the SA Derby.
• AFL finals tickets provided by the AFL
• A partnership entered into by his dog, Dusty the Kangaroo Island Kelpie, with Pirate Life Brewing to produce fundraising beer called Dusty Draught. Sales raised more than $3500 for the farm firefighting units on Kangaroo Island

Originally published as Opposition Leader David Speirs declares 13 properties in the latest register of members interests for the lower house