'Leave s--- behind': leader makes impassioned pledge to unify party in turmoil

New Opposition Leader Pledges Unity for Canberra Liberals

Mark Parton, a former radio presenter known for his moderate Liberal stance, has been unanimously elected as the new opposition leader of the Canberra Liberals. He resigned from his position as Legislative Assembly Speaker following the leadership change.

Leadership Change Background

The leadership shift came after Leanne Castley resigned as opposition leader and Jeremy Hanson stepped down as deputy leader. This followed a recent suspension of two party members by Castley.

Parton's Vision for the Party

“I've been placed in this position as a unifier, and unify is what I will do.”

Parton expressed frustration with ongoing internal disputes, emphasizing that such conflicts are irrelevant to the community outside party walls.

“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 highlighted the importance of rallying the party’s parliamentary members around a common goal to challenge the government in the 2028 election.

“So 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.”
Focus on Moving Forward

Parton avoided commenting on the internal issues that led to the leadership upheaval, instead focusing on uniting the party.

“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 called leading the party “an absolute honour and a privilege.”

Summary: Mark Parton commits to healing divisions within the Canberra Liberals and uniting members to contest the 2028 government with renewed focus and cooperation.

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The Canberra Times The Canberra Times — 2025-11-10

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