David James Speirs sentenced at Adelaide court for cocaine supply shame

The former leader of South Australia’s Liberal Party has walked from court with a fine and community service order after supplying cocaine to two young men.

David James Speirs was ordered to pay a $9000 fine and complete 37.5 hours’ community service at his sentencing in Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Mr Spiers pleaded guilty to supplying cocaine to two young men in illicit late-night and early morning “catch-ups” on two occasions at his southern Adelaide home in August last year.

Magistrate Brian Nitschke imposed convictions against Speirs, which could impact his future employment and travel opportunities.

Mr Nitschke said those who supplied drugs often had no way of knowing their composition, and that both public denunciation and general deterrence had played a role in his sentence.

The sentence brings to a conclusion a remarkable scandal that has rocked state politics.

Speirs, a Scottish immigrant to Australia, has family in Britain and the US, and a conviction could potentially block his ability to travel overseas.

Director of Public Prosecutions Martin Hinton KC had argued a conviction is “essential” and said Speirs’ former position as a member of parliament demanded stern denunciation from the courts.

“You cannot put yourself up for public office, accept public office, hold public office and then expect you will not be held to the standards that go with public office,” Mr Hinton said at a hearing before Mr Nitschke on April 11.

The offending took place during the final days of Speirs’ period as opposition leader, which he took up in 2022 following Labor’s victory in the state election.

Defence lawyer William Mickan, speaking for Speirs, argued for a good behaviour bond.

Speirs, 40, supplied the drug to Peter Zubic and Andrew Sampson, both aged 28, after the trio met by chance at a cafe on Jetty Road in the beachside suburb of Brighton.

“Zubic went to Speirs’ house on Friday, August 2, 2024, with Sampson … While at the home address of Speirs, Speirs produced a rock of cocaine, crushed it on the bench top in the kitchen and Speirs snorted it using a rolled-up note,” court documents, seen by NewsWire, state.

The trio met again one week later at Speirs’ house about 5am and used cocaine and alcohol.

Speirs’ arrest and appearances in court followed the release of footage on September 9 that appeared to show him snorting a white powder substance at his home.

When allegations of drug offending blew up in public, Speirs left for a holiday in Bali, and the police arrested him when he returned on September 26.

A search of his Adelaide home uncovered small plastic resealable bag containing a white powdery residue, a rolled-up $20 banknote, a Qantas card with white powdery residue on it, rolled-up foreign currency, a rolled-up USD$1 banknote, rolled up $5 banknote, and a hand-rolled cigarette containing suspected cannabis.

The case sent shockwaves through South Australian politics, with Premier Peter Malinauskas describing it as “all a bit breathtaking”.

Speirs initially denied the veracity of the footage, claiming it was a “deepfake”, and denied ever having used drugs.

He pleaded guilty to the charges in March.

Vincent Tarzia has since replaced Speirs as leader of the embattled Liberals.