David Speirs

In March 2018 David Speirs was appointed the Minister for Environment and Water.

As a practical environmentalist, David is proud to be at the forefront of environmental policy and change in South Australia. In 2016, he developed a vision for a new national park in Adelaide’s southern suburbs,

As Minister he is also leading a number of other government priorities including expanding the state’s nature-based and heritage tourism industry, blue carbon initiatives, protecting the special River Murray and Coorong and creating ‘Green Adelaide’ – a body focussed on urban ecology and making Adelaide, Australia’s first national park city.

David grew up on a dairy farm in Galloway in southern Scotland and immigrated to Australia with his family in 2002. He completed a Bachelor of Laws with Honours at the University of Adelaide and was a Councillor and Deputy Mayor at the City of Marion Council between 2010 and 2014.

David was elected to the South Australian Parliament as the Member for Bright (now known as Black) in 2014.

Before entering politics, David worked in senior and principal policy development positions with the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

In his spare time, David enjoys keeping fit and healthy. He’s an active lifesaver at the Brighton Surf Lifesaving Club and was the founding member of Friends of the Lower Field River – a land care group established by Hallett Cove residents to protect the local environment. In 2016 he launched the state’s first access mat at Seacliff beach, allowing people with a wheelchair access to the beach.