South Australian Liberals elect Vincent Tarzia as new leader to replace David Speirs

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The state opposition tonight has a new leader, with Vincent Tarzia elected as David Speirs' replacement. He denies he was responsible for undermining the former leader and has declared he can take the Liberals to victory at the next election.

Transcript

00:00Vincent Tarsier wanted the top Liberal job and the party room had the choice between

00:06him or Josh Teague as David Spears' replacement.

00:10Vincent Tarsier is the new leader of the South Australian Liberal Party.

00:14He's adamant he wasn't one of the people who worked against the former leader which helped

00:19trigger Spears' decision to quit.

00:21Did you undermine David Spears?

00:23No.

00:24Did you undermine David Spears?

00:25No, not at all.

00:26Tarsier made a courageous call for a party that's won just one state election this century.

00:31The Liberal Party will win the state election in 2026.

00:37Mr Tarsier has been in Parliament for a decade and saw off a challenge from Nick Xenophon

00:41at the 2018 election.

00:45Becoming Speaker then a Minister in the Marshall Government.

00:49With little more than 18 months before the next election, Mr Tarsier is already looking

00:54to differentiate himself from his predecessor with a peace offering for former foes.

00:59I'm putting the olive branch out right now to the Ambulance Union to sit down and have

01:05a chat.

01:06The uncontested leadership ballot some Liberals sought didn't eventuate despite Deputy John

01:11Gardiner's decision not to run.

01:14Vincent has a strength that is unparalleled.

01:18He has a capacity for work that is unmatched.

01:22Other colleagues trying to move on from a chaotic few days.

01:26Ultimately our focus needs to be on fighting hard for South Australians and representing

01:30them and their interests.

01:31We're not talking about division today, we're talking about unity today.

01:34We've got a new leader, we'll support him.

01:37He'll keep the team united as David Spears did.

01:39David Spears led a very united team.

01:41The Government has a different view.

01:44Treachery can't get you over the line in an election.

01:47Treachery will only get you so far.

01:49Treachery can get you the Liberal Party leadership, but it won't get you an election victory.

01:54There was no public comment from David Spears following the ballot, despite his threat to

01:58leave the party if he believed those who undermined him were rewarded.

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