Vincent Tarzia is the new leader of the South Australian Liberals after the party voted to replace David Speirs, who quit the role due to leadership speculation.
Ahead of Monday morning’s partyroom vote, key contender John Gardner withdrew from the battle and said he would join colleagues in uniting around the new leader.
His withdrawal left only two contenders, Mr Tarzia and former speaker Josh Teague.
The party’s 22 MPs voted 18-4 to install Mr Tarzia, who holds the northeastern Adelaide seat of Hartley.
The 37-year-old was elected to parliament in 2014 and served in Steven Marshall’s one-term government.
Mr Speirs became the party leader in April 2022, replacing Mr Marshall after Peter Malinauskas led Labor to a landslide victory.
The Liberals have served just one term in office in SA in the past two decades with Labor otherwise reigning supreme.
Mr Speirs quit on Thursday, saying he had had a “gutful” after weeks of speculation over his leadership.
He said he had “made a fairly good attempt at consolidating the party, uniting the party and moving it to the future”.
Source: AAP
