The Canberra Liberals have been thrust into a dramatic leadership upheaval, with former leader Leanne Castley and her deputy Jeremy Hanson abruptly resigning from their positions following weeks of internal party turmoil.
A New Leader Emerges from the Crisis
In a swift party-room meeting on Monday, former commercial radio host and race-caller Mark Parton was elected as the new leader of the ACT opposition. The move came as a direct response to the sudden departure of the previous leadership team. Parton, who subsequently resigned from his role as Speaker of the ACT Legislative Assembly to take up the leadership, immediately called for an end to the internal disputes that have plagued the party.
"I'm absolutely sick to death of having conversations about internal party matters," Parton told reporters, adding, "I think in recent months my party's been divided by a line that separates people who hang on to shit and people who leave shit behind. And it is time to leave shit behind." He positioned himself as an alternative for the people of Canberra, stating they desperately needed one.
The Turmoil That Sparked the Resignation
The political crisis erupted after the now-former leader, Leanne Castley, sensationally suspended two of her colleagues from the Liberal party room. The suspended members were former leader Elizabeth Lee and backbencher Peter Cain, who had crossed the floor to support a Greens motion to add an extra parliamentary sitting week to the 2026 calendar.
This decision reportedly caused significant outrage among the party's grassroots members, as the Liberals have a long-standing tradition of allowing backbenchers to cross the floor without fear of expulsion or suspension. In a statement announcing her resignation, Castley offered no detailed explanation for her dramatic move, merely stating that she and Hanson were stepping down "to give the Canberra Liberals the best possible chance of success in the 2028 election." She replaced Elizabeth Lee as leader after the party's seventh consecutive election loss to Labor in November.
Unity and a Fresh Start Under Parton
In one of his first acts as leader, Mark Parton oversaw a unanimous motion to welcome the suspended Elizabeth Lee and Peter Cain back into the party room. He expressed his expectation that both would play a "much greater role" under his new leadership, signalling a decisive break from the recent conflict.
Parton brings a colourful and media-savvy presence to the leadership role. First elected to the ACT Legislative Assembly in 2016, he built a strong personal brand through social media videos documenting his life as a local politician. However, this approach has occasionally landed him in hot water, including receiving a formal police caution in 2021 for livestreaming on TikTok while driving.
First-term MLA Deborah Morris, a former media adviser, was elected as Parton's deputy. Labor Chief Minister Andrew Barr acknowledged the contribution of the outgoing leaders and congratulated Parton, while wryly noting the "significant challenge" of leading a party room that contains three former leaders.
