Australia’s Most Unsuccessful Party Loses Another Leader
The Canberra Liberals, who have been in opposition for twenty-four years, face another leadership change as Leanne Castley announces her resignation after a challenging year leading the party.
Last year, the Labor party secured its seventh consecutive victory in the ACT Assembly. The Canberra Liberals have not held power since former Chief Minister and Senator Gary Humphries was defeated by Jon Stanhope in the 2001 territory elections.
Leadership Change Announced
On Monday, Leanne Castley and her deputy Jeremy Hanson declared they would step down to allow new leadership. Mark Parton, a former radio announcer and current ACT Speaker, is expected to become the new leader.
“To give the Canberra Liberals the best possible chance of success in the 2028 election, we have made the decision to step down from leadership,” the pair said in a joint statement.
The statement also noted a forthcoming vote to elect a new leadership team, with neither Castley nor Hanson contesting any positions. They expressed full support for their successors.
Summary
The Canberra Liberals continue to struggle with leadership instability, aiming for renewed success in future elections.