1 week Ago By Abe Maddison
Former South Australian Liberal leader David Speirs has made a brief first court appearance after being charged with supplying drugs. or signup to continue reading Speirs, 39, has been embroiled in controversy since he quit the leadership on August 8, declaring that he had "just had a gutful" of leadership speculation and did not have the energy to keep fighting. Facing two counts of supplying a controlled substance from August 2-3 and on August 9, his bail was varied in Christies Beach Magistrates Court on Friday to allow him to travel overseas.
Prosecutors agreed that his passport be returned to him but he must lodge his itinerary with police, pay a $15,000 surety with a guarantor for another $15,000. No details of his destination were given in court, but he was ordered to report to police on his return and hand back his passport on his return from overseas. On September 9, News Corp published a video purportedly showing Speirs snorting a powder.
He declared the footage to be a "deepfake" and vowed to clear his name. Two days later, he took medical leave, saying the past few days had been "exceptionally distressing" and that he was left "feeling exceptionally vulnerable and at risk". On October 5, Speirs released a video statement saying he did not believe he could "adequately and effectively serve my local community while also dealing with this matter, protecting my mental health and supporting my family and friends".
"Since allegations of illicit substance use in my home became public, my home has been raided by armed police, I was arrested and I was questioned," he said. Speirs resigned from parliament on October 15, clearing the way for a by-election in his southern Adelaide seat on Saturday. His case returns to court on March 4.
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