Former MP Nick McBride's home detention conditions eased

Former South Australian MP Nick McBride, accused of assaulting his former wife, has successfully argued for a relaxation of his home detention bail conditions.

McBride, who held the seat of MacKillop in the state's south-east until this year's March election, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court to vary his strict home detention bail conditions imposed after he spent almost a fortnight behind bars earlier this year.

The court heard that McBride, 57, resides in Adelaide's eastern suburbs and has been issued passes by the Department for Correctional Services staff to stay in Robe on the Limestone Coast on occasions. He has been working as a welder since losing his seat and has found it difficult to find work.

The variations to his bail conditions include the lifting of a restriction on alcohol consumption and the allowance for McBride to, at specific times, take trips to the supermarket and exercise outdoors. However, he is still barred from attending licensed premises.

Outside court, McBride said he was pleased with the easing of restrictions but that the conditions of his home detention bail are "really really tough", and he appreciates why people "opt to go back to jail". "In jail there's more exercise, there's more social activity, there's less responsibility, and I can understand why people in my position can see that as an easier out than working through and navigating the rules that have been imposed on myself," he said.

McBride also said he would continue to work to "clear these allegations". "It would be a lot easier if I just admitted guilt, put my hands up and it would be all over … but there's no way I'm going to do this," he said. "I'm going to go right through to the end to clear these allegations and to make sure that I am seen as innocent rather than guilty."

McBride will next appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court next month.