"It's time to leave shit behind": Mark Parton's plan to lead unified Liberals to government
Mark Parton leads the Canberra Liberals
New Canberra Liberals Leader Mark Parton, together with his deputy Deborah Morris, has pledged to lead a united party into the 2028 election. Speaking to the media after their election to the leadership, Parton emphasized his determination to focus on external voters rather than internal disputes.
“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 he and Morris aim to get all nine parliamentary colleagues aligned toward challenging the government at the next election.
Call for unity and renewal
Parton acknowledged the party’s divisions but noted that the resignations of former leaders Leanne Castley and Jeremy Hanson opened the door to renewed unity and progress. He rejected the idea that the party’s divisions were ideological, instead characterizing them as cultural differences in attitude.
“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.”
Leadership prospects
Long regarded as one of the Liberals’ strongest public communicators, Parton has often been viewed as leadership material but had not previously pursued the top job due to internal numbers and timing.
Author’s summary: Mark Parton’s message emphasizes unity, a focus on the 2028 election, and a departure from the Canberra Liberals’ recent internal divisions.