New Leadership for Canberra Liberals
Mark Parton, a former radio presenter and moderate Liberal, has been unanimously elected as the new opposition leader in Canberra. He resigned as Legislative Assembly Speaker following the leadership change caused by Leanne Castley's and Jeremy Hanson's recent resignations from the opposition leader and deputy leader positions respectively.
Commitment to Unity
Mr. Parton emphasized his role as a unifier for the party, stating:
"I've been placed in this position as a unifier, and unify is what I will do."
He expressed frustration with internal disputes, remarking,
"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 Future Goals
Parton outlined his plan to align the nine parliamentary members for a common purpose:
"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 also honored the trust placed in him by his colleagues:
"It is an absolute honour and a privilege to have been elected by my colleagues to lead the party."
Moving Beyond Past Divisions
Parton avoided commenting on the events leading to the leadership change, focusing instead on healing party divisions. He acknowledged longstanding ideological splits within 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."
Summary
Mark Parton pledges to unify the Canberra Liberals and shift focus from internal conflicts toward a collective effort in confronting the government in 2028.
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