After resigning the Liberal Party leadership last month saying he “had a gutful” of leaks and undermining, Speirs flew out to Scotland for a family member’s wedding and missed last week’s sitting of parliament.

Tarzia – who succeeded Speirs as leader and left the Black MP out of his new shadow cabinet – told ABC Radio Adelaide this morning that Speirs is coming back “near the end of September”, which would mean missing more sitting weeks of parliament.

“I had a chat to David just before he went away and it was obviously a private conversation, a positive conversation,” Tarzia said.

“And David made it clear that he was going overseas – I think he’s back sort of end of September from what I understand.

“And I’m looking forward to having a chat.”

Pressed on the timing of Speirs’s return, Tarzia said: “I think it’s near the end of September is what I hear.”

Asked if this meant Speirs would be away for around five to six weeks, Tarzia said: “I haven’t heard otherwise.”

“But I’m looking forward to catching up with him. Our offices are in contact to try and catch up with him and look there’s no doubt there’s a very important role for David to play in the future of the party.

“I’m glad to hear that he’s staying in the party.”

Only minutes after Tarzia’s interview aired, Speirs posted a photo on a flight out of Europe with the caption: “After an amazing time with family in Scotland, it’s time to make the long trek home.”

Speirs told InDaily that he’ll be “back at work next week”.

Asked about Speirs’s social media post, Tarzia told InDaily in a statement: “Mr Speirs has advised he will return to Parliament in late September. I am looking forward to his return.”

The next parliamentary sitting day is listed for September 10. By then, Speirs will be back in Adelaide and could make his first appearance as a backbencher.

David Speirs (left) pictured at his cousin’s wedding in Scotland. Photo: David Speirs MP/Facebook

Speirs’s latest social media post comes after he threatened to move to the crossbench if the Liberal Party leadership ballot rewarded “bad behaviour”.

He also penned an opinion piece for InDaily two weeks ago claiming Tarzia’s team is “confused and disoriented” by the leadership change and warned that “many think he (Tarzia) will be annihilated” at the 2026 state election.

Tarzia, asked on ABC Radio today whether he’d spoken with Speirs since he left, said: “I’ve respected his privacy in going away.”

“Our offices have been in contact to arrange a catchup when he comes back and giving him time away that he wants, and when he comes back we’ll talk about it,” he said.

Tarzia also today addressed rumours circulating about problems staffing his office, admitting “it’s been challenging”, but revealed that he had signed up a chief of staff over the weekend. The key staffer’s identity will be announced this afternoon.

“We’ve hired the majority in the office,” Tarzia said.

“You want to get the right person in. It’s also a tough job market and of course people are pretty bullish about the federal election too.

“You’re dealing with all these competitive tensions – it’s not necessarily a bad thing.

“[I’m] three weeks in the job today – a lot of people’s notice period would be after four weeks, so it’s been challenging but also at the same time a great time for a recalibration.”

Tarzia was also asked about Schubert MP and shadow health spokesperson Ashton Hurn, who is widely seen as a future leader of the Liberal Party.

Asked whether Hurn would have the numbers to successfully challenge him for the leadership, Tarzia said: “I think it’s a hypothetical question.”

“Ashton Hurn is no doubt going to be an excellent future leader of the party one day,” Tarzia said.

“But I’ll work as hard as I’ll can every minute of the day in the job that I have and I’m very grateful for it.”