Former SA Liberal leader David James Speirs to answer to drug supply charge

The shock drug charge slapped on the former leader of South Australia’s embattled Liberal Party has been confirmed.

David James Speirs appeared at Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday, where Director of Public Prosecutions Martin Hinton KC confirmed he would proceed with the claim Mr Speirs supplied a drug that was not cannabis to another person.

The police say the former Liberal leader supplied a controlled substance other than cannabis, cannabis resin or cannabis oil at a Kingston Park address, a suburb in southern Adelaide, between August 1 and August 10 last year.

“This is a major indictable offence,” the charge sheet document states.

If found guilty, Mr Speirs could face a maximum penalty of 10 years’ jail.

Mr Speirs has yet to enter his pleas to the allegations.

Mr Hinton told Magistrate Lynette Duncan negotiations had commenced between the prosecution and Mr Speirs’ defence team.

Ms Duncan set March 27 for Mr Speirs’ next appearance in court.

His arrest and appearance in court follows the circulation of video footage that appeared to show Mr Speirs snorting a white powder in his home in June last year, and standing next to some white powder arranged in lines.

Mr Speirs has previously denied the veracity of the video, claiming it may be a “deep fake”.

He pushed through a media scrum on Tuesday but declined to discuss the case in any detail.

“There’ll be plenty to say in the coming weeks,” he said.

“I would like to see a resolution sooner rather than later. But I respect the judicial process in this state. Obviously (having) been a part of decision making in this state for some time.

“I just look forward to working through the process in a logical and methodical way.”

At his first appearance at Christies Beach Magistrates Court in November, Mr Speirs declined to discuss the case.

“Now for me it’s just the time to get around friends and family,” he said.

“I do want to thank the many hundreds of people in South Australia who have been so supportive of me and have reached out to see if I am okay.

“It has meant a lot and it has actually sustained me during this time.”

The footage and subsequent arrest and charge sent shockwaves through South Australia’s political circles.

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, speaking in September after the release of the footage, called the situation “breathtaking”.

“There’s a whole range of questions for Vincent Tarzia to answer here and Mr Speirs and the Liberal Party,” he said in September.

Mr Tarzia was elected to replace Mr Speirs as Liberal leader.

Mr Speirs, who speaks with a Scottish accent and immigrated to Australia as a teenager, resigned from parliament in the wake of the video.

In a video from October 5, Mr Speirs responded directly to charge, denying the allegation and suggesting he may have been the victim of “state government power”.

“I have endured many pressures over the last few months,” he said.

“My mental health has been in significant decline. I’ve 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 of me, to be 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 is 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 am equally concerned about what is actually the use of state government power against someone who is a political opponent.”