Mark Parton Pledges to Unite Canberra Liberals
Former radio presenter and moderate Liberal politician Mark Parton has been unanimously elected as the new leader of the Canberra Liberals. Following his election, he resigned from his role as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
The leadership change comes after Leanne Castley stepped down as opposition leader and Jeremy Hanson resigned as deputy leader, just days after Castley suspended two members from the party room.
"I've been placed in this position as a unifier, and unify is what I will do," Mr Parton said.
"It's time for the Canberra Liberals to leave things behind," he added, emphasizing his goal to restore unity within the party.
Mr Parton stated that he is tired of internal conflicts overshadowing broader political concerns. He stressed that voters care about community issues, not intra-party divisions.
"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," he said.
Joined by colleague Deborah Morris, Parton urged all nine parliamentary members to focus on cooperation and to prepare for the next election in 2028. He expressed gratitude for the confidence shown by his peers.
"It is an absolute honour and a privilege to have been elected by my colleagues to lead the party," said Mr Parton.
He declined to comment on the events that precipitated the leadership shake-up, focusing instead on rebuilding and unifying the team for future challenges.
"I believe that in the past, my party has been divided. There's no question—like many political groups—ours has often been split between left and right," he concluded.
Author’s Summary
Mark Parton vows to heal divisions within the Canberra Liberals, pledging a focus on unity and teamwork after assuming leadership amid recent turmoil.