David Speirs, the head of South Australia’s opposition, has announced his resignation.
Following uncertainty on his future in the position, the leader of the state’s Liberal Party made the choice.
Speirs said he wanted to “explain the situation” before he “sets sail off into the sunset” at today’s news conference, but he did not take questions.
“On Monday at a joint party room meeting…the leadership will be declared vacant and the party will have the opportunity to elect my successor,” he stated.
“After the election in March 2022, this party was in the depths of despair when I assumed leadership of it. I believe I’ve done a decent job of bringing the party together, cementing its base, and steering it into the future.”
Speirs claimed that the responsibilities of his leadership made it harder for him to spend time with his family and that he lacked the motivation to lead the party in the upcoming election.
“To be honest, I’ve had a gutful,” he stated.
Speirs expressed his confidence that the party will succeed in 2026 with the policies he had put in place.
“It’s not easy being leader of the opposition – and doing it for two years and four months has certainly taken its toll on me and it’s taken its toll on my family and my friends,” he stated.
“Tossing pebbles at the opposition leader is incredibly simple…It’s really simple to come up with new suggestions for how to do things more effectively.”
Speirs was the former Marshall government’s minister of the environment and water.
He reaffirmed his intention to serve as the Member for Black in the legislature.
