New Opposition Leader Pledges Unity for Canberra Liberals
Mark Parton, a former radio presenter and moderate Liberal, has been unanimously elected as the new opposition leader for the Canberra Liberals. He emphasized his commitment to bringing unity to the party amid recent internal turmoil.
"I've been placed in this position as a unifier, and unify is what I will do," said Mr. Parton.
Leadership Changes Sparked by Party Turmoil
This leadership change follows Leanne Castley's resignation as opposition leader and Jeremy Hanson's departure as deputy leader, occurring less than two weeks after Castley suspended two party members from the party room.
Focus on Moving Forward
Mr. Parton, who resigned as Legislative Assembly Speaker to take on his new role, expressed frustration with ongoing internal disputes. He stressed that voters are not interested in these conflicts and highlighted his goal to unify the party heading into the 2028 government election.
"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.
Alongside Deborah Morris, Mr. Parton aims to align the nine parliamentary members toward a common goal.
"It is an absolute honour and a privilege to have been elected by my colleagues to lead the party."
Party Divisions Highlighted
Reflecting on the party's struggles, Mr. Parton acknowledged divisions mainly between the left and right factions within the Liberals but opted not to comment on the incidents that precipitated the leadership change.
"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."
He is focused instead on moving the party forward toward the upcoming elections.
Author’s Summary
Mark Parton pledges to unite the Canberra Liberals after leadership upheaval, aiming to move past internal conflicts and prepare to challenge the government in 2028.