Mark Parton, the newly elected leader of the Canberra Liberals, along with his deputy Deborah Morris, is dedicated to guiding a unified party into the 2028 election.
Addressing the media, Parton emphasized the need to focus beyond internal conflicts. He stated,
“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 added that his goal, together with Deborah Morris, is to rally all nine parliamentary members toward a common objective to challenge the government in 2028.
Parton acknowledged past divisions within the party but noted that the resignations of former leaders Leanne Castley and Jeremy Hanson created an opportunity for unity through a new leadership team.
On the nature of the division, he remarked,
“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.”
Known as the party’s most effective media representative, Parton has long been regarded as a leadership candidate but had previously lacked the necessary support or declined to run.
Author's summary: Mark Parton aims to unify the Canberra Liberals by moving past internal disputes and focusing on a strong challenge against the government in 2028.