New Leadership for Canberra Liberals
Mark Parton, a former radio presenter and moderate Liberal, has been unanimously elected as the new opposition leader of the Canberra Liberals, resigning from his role as Legislative Assembly Speaker.
Commitment to Unity
“I've been placed in this position as a unifier, and unify is what I will do,”
Mr Parton pledged to bring the party together after a period of internal turmoil.
Context of Leadership Change
The leadership shift follows Leanne Castley stepping down as opposition leader and Jeremy Hanson resigning as deputy leader, shortly after Castley suspended two members from the party room.
Focus on Moving Forward
“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.”
Parton emphasized the need to focus on the broader public rather than internal conflicts.
He also stressed the goal of uniting the parliamentary team:
“I am here, along with Deborah Morris, to get nine parliamentary members on the same train heading forward so that we can take on the government in 2028.”
Leadership Vision
Parton declined to comment on the specifics behind the leadership changes and instead focused on future goals, acknowledging the party’s history of division along ideological lines:
“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.”
Author’s summary: Mark Parton takes the helm of the Canberra Liberals, pledging to unite the party and focus on defeating the government in 2028 after a turbulent leadership transition.