New Opposition Leader Pledges Unity for Canberra Liberals
Mark Parton, a former radio presenter and moderate Liberal, has been unanimously elected as the new leader of the Canberra Liberals. He resigned as Legislative Assembly Speaker to take on this role following the resignation of Leanne Castley as opposition leader and Jeremy Hanson as deputy leader.
Commitment to Overcome Party Divisions
Mr. Parton emphasized his focus on unity within the party and expressed frustration with internal disputes. He said,
“I've been placed in this position as a unifier, and unify is what I will do.”
He also noted the disconnect between party infighting and public concerns:
“I'm absolutely sick to death of having conversations about internal party matters, because I can tell you that people out in the suburbs are not having those conversations.”
Moving Forward Towards 2028
Along with Deborah Morris, Mr. Parton aims to unite the nine parliamentary members to focus on challenging the government in 2028. He described his election as a privilege, stating,
“It is an absolute honour and a privilege to have been elected by my colleagues to lead the party.”
Refusing to Comment on Leadership Crisis
Mr. Parton declined to speak about the circumstances that led to the leadership changes, instead stressing the need to advance the party beyond past divisions. He acknowledged longstanding rifts within the Liberals, saying,
“I believe that in the past, my party has been divided. There's no question, as is the case with many political parties, my party's often been divided by a line that separates the left and the right.”
Background on Leadership Turnover
- Leanne Castley resigned as opposition leader.
- Jeremy Hanson also stepped down as deputy leader shortly after.
- Castley had recently suspended two party members, contributing to turmoil.
Mark Parton positions himself as a moderate voice ready to bring cohesion to the Canberra Liberals and focus on future electoral success.
Author's summary: Mark Parton has pledged to unify the fractured Canberra Liberals, promising to move past internal disputes and prepare the party for the 2028 election challenge.