Mark Parton Elected Leader of the Canberra Liberals
Mark Parton MLA has been chosen as the new Leader of the Canberra Liberals, with Deborah Morris MLA appointed as Deputy Leader. Both former leader Leanne Castley and deputy leader Jeremy Hanson voluntarily stepped down today to enhance the party’s prospects for the 2028 election.
Leadership Transition Details
The party held a Liberals Party Room meeting where neither Ms. Castley nor Mr. Hanson contested the leadership roles. Mark Parton, a Legislative Assembly member since 2016, took on the leadership with unanimous support from elected members. Deborah Morris joined the Assembly last year and now serves as Deputy Leader.
“With support from all elected members, I can announce that I have accepted the position. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Leanne Castley and Jeremy Hanson for their work over the last 12 months. It’s vital that we continue to strengthen the cohesion within our Party.” – Mark Parton
Party Vision and Next Steps
Parton emphasized the importance of fostering open dialogue and valuing diverse perspectives to reinforce the party's unity. The party's primary goal is to build an alternative government that effectively serves the ACT community.
Mark Parton has stepped down as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. A new Speaker is scheduled to be elected in December, while ACT Greens MLA Andrew Braddock will act as Deputy Speaker in the interim.
Background
Leanne Castley became leader after the October 2024 election, succeeding Elizabeth Lee.
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