Leader Pledges Unity Amid Party Turmoil
Mark Parton, a former radio presenter and moderate Liberal, has been elected as the new opposition leader of the Canberra Liberals. He called on the party to "leave behind" past conflicts and positioned himself as a unifying force.
New Leadership Following Resignations
Mr Parton was unanimously chosen as leader and stepped down from his role as Legislative Assembly Speaker. His appointment comes after Leanne Castley resigned as opposition leader and Jeremy Hanson quit as deputy leader, following Castley's suspension of two party members.
Focus on Moving Forward
“I've been placed in this position as a unifier, and unify is what I will do.”
Parton expressed frustration with internal disputes:
“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 emphasized the goal of uniting the nine parliamentary members to challenge the government in 2028, alongside deputy leader Deborah Morris.
Vision for the Party
Parton declined to comment on the events that caused leadership changes, focusing instead on healing divisions within the party. He acknowledged longstanding splits within the Liberals between left and right factions.
“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 described it as "an absolute honour and a privilege" to lead the Liberals forward.
Author's summary: Mark Parton vows to unify the divided Canberra Liberals and push the party forward after recent leadership upheavals and internal conflicts.