Leader Pledges Unity for Canberra Liberals Amid Turmoil
Mark Parton, former radio presenter and moderate Liberal, has been unanimously elected as the new opposition leader for the Canberra Liberals. He resigned as Legislative Assembly Speaker to take on this role.
Commitment to Unify the Party
Mr. Parton emphasized his role as a unifier for the party, stating:
“I've been placed in this position as a unifier, and unify is what I will do.”
He expressed frustration with ongoing internal conflicts, pointing out that such disputes do not resonate with the public:
“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.”
Focus on Future Goals
Alongside Deborah Morris, Mr. Parton aims to unite the nine parliamentary members to move forward and challenge the government in 2028:
“I am here... to get nine parliamentary members on the same train heading forward so that we can take on the government in 2028.”
He described his election as an honor and privilege:
“It is an absolute honour and a privilege to have been elected by my colleagues to lead the party.”
Background of Leadership Change
- The leadership shift follows Leanne Castley’s resignation as opposition leader and Jeremy Hanson’s departure as deputy leader.
- This came less than two weeks after Ms. Castley suspended two party members.
- Mr. Parton declined to comment on the circumstances behind the leadership changes, choosing to focus on progress instead.
Party Divisions Acknowledged
Mr. Parton acknowledged past divisions within the party, often split along ideological lines:
“I believe that in the past, my party has been divided. There's no question... my party's often been divided by a line that separates the left and the right.”
Author's summary: Mark Parton steps in as Canberra Liberals leader committed to ending internal conflicts and uniting the party to face the 2028 election.