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

New Opposition Leader Pledges Unity for Canberra Liberals

Former radio presenter and moderate Liberal, Mark Parton, has been unanimously elected as the new opposition leader of the Canberra Liberals, following the resignation of Leanne Castley and Jeremy Hanson.

Commitment to Unify the Party

Mr. Parton emphasized his role as a unifier, stating:

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

He expressed frustration with ongoing internal disputes, highlighting the disconnect between party conflicts and concerns of suburban voters:

“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.”

Focus on Moving Forward

Parton, who resigned as Legislative Assembly Speaker to take on the new role, is focused on aligning the party for the 2028 government challenge. Alongside Deborah Morris, he aims to unify the nine parliamentary members toward a common goal:

“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.”

He acknowledged the honor of being elected by his colleagues:

“It is an absolute honour and a privilege to have been elected by my colleagues to lead the party.”

Past Divisions Within the Party

While declining to comment on the specific events that led to the leadership changes, Parton noted longstanding divisions within the party, often 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.”

Background Context

Mark Parton positions himself as a moderate figure aiming to move past recent turmoil and unify the Canberra Liberals.

Author’s summary: Mark Parton, new Canberra Liberals leader, vows to set aside internal conflicts and unify the party to effectively challenge the government in 2028.

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

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