David Speirs

David Speirs
MP
Member of Parliament
for Bright
Assumed office
15 March 2014
Preceded by Chloë Fox
Personal details
Born David James Speirs
15 December 1984
Galloway, Scotland, United Kingdom
Political party Liberal Party of Australia (SA)
Education Stranraer Academy
Alma mater University of Adelaide

David James Speirs (born 15 December 1984) is an Australian politician representing the South Australian House of Assembly seat of Bright for the South Australian Division of the Liberal Party of Australia since the 2014 state election.[1]

Early life

Speirs was born in Galloway, Scotland, where he was schooled at Kirkcolm Primary School and Stranraer Academy.[2] He emigrated to Australia with his parents and two younger brothers at the age of 17 in 2002.

Professional Career

He completed Bachelor of Laws with Honours at the University of Adelaide in 2008, and was a councillor and deputy mayor on the City of Marion council between 2010 and 2014. He worked in senior and principal policy development positions within the state Cabinet Office, in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, between 2008 and 2014.

Speirs was a national director of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award in Australia between 2010 and 2014.[3]

In 2012, Speirs was named Young Community Leader of the Year in the prestigious Channel 9 Young Achievers Awards.[4]

Parliamentary career

Speirs entered the South Australian parliament in March 2014, defeating Labor's Transport Services Minister, Chloë Fox.[5]

In October 2014, Speirs was appointed to the Parliament’s Economic and Finance Committee[6] following the resignation of Iain Evans. During 2015 he served on the Standing Committee into e-cigarettes[7] and in January 2016 he was elevated to Steven Marshall's Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Cabinet Secretary.[8]

In October 2015, Speirs launched Beach for All, a crowd-funded project in partnership with Seacliff Surf Life Saving Club to make Seacliff beach South Australia's first wheelchair accessible beach. The Beach for All access mat was launched on Australia Day 2016.[9]

Personal life

Speirs is an active lifesaver at the Brighton Surf Lifesaving Club and has a strong interest in health and fitness.[10]

Speirs is a founding member of the Hallett Cove-based environmental group, Friends of the Lower Field River.[11] Friends of the Lower Field River is a land care group established by Hallett Cove residents in 2006 to protect and care for the lower portion of the Field River and its environs.[12]

References

  1. ↑ 2014 SA election: Antony Green ABC
  2. ↑ Speirs, David. "Maiden speech". Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  3. ↑ Edinburgh, Duke of. "Speaking out at Apec Voices of the Future". Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  4. ↑ ""Channel 9 Young Achievers Awards".
  5. ↑ ""State Election Votes 2014". Retrieved March 23 2014.
  6. ↑ "Parliament's Economic and Finance Committee" Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  7. ↑ "E-cigarettes Committee" Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  8. ↑ ""Marshall Liberal Team". "Tackling South Australia's economic crisis". Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  9. ↑ ""David Speirs Beach for All Speech". Retrieved February 11 2016.
  10. ↑ "David Speirs MP". "Parliament of South Australia". Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  11. ↑ "News". Friends of the Lower Field River. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  12. ↑ "News". Friends of the Lower Field River. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
South Australian House of Assembly
Preceded by
Chloë Fox		 Member for Bright
2014–present 		Incumbent
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