Saturday, March 29, 2025
David Speirs, the former leader of the South Australian Liberal Party, has been convicted of supplying cocaine. The Adelaide court imposed a fine of A$9,000 (around $5,720) and ordered him to complete 37.5 hours of community service.
Speirs was arrested after a video surfaced showing him snorting a white substance from a plate. Initially, he denied the accusations, claiming the footage was a “deepfake,” but later admitted to lying about the incident.
Speirs pleaded guilty to supplying cocaine to two men in August. His defense claimed that he used drugs as a coping mechanism for the stress of his high-profile political role. However, the court made it clear that the offense was unrelated to his work duties.
Prosecutors emphasized the public interest, given Speirs’ prominent position in politics. Magistrate Brian Nitschke acknowledged the stress argument but stressed that it was “no excuse” for such actions. The court also refused to allow Speirs to avoid the conviction, emphasizing the importance of public denunciation and deterrence.
Following the scandal, Speirs resigned from his role in Parliament, marking the end of his political career. Despite the charges, he refrained from speaking to the media after the sentencing.
