Australia’s most unsuccessful party loses another leader

Australia’s Most Unsuccessful Party Loses Another Leader

The Canberra Liberals, who have been in opposition for twenty-four years, lost another leader when Leanne Castley announced her resignation after a challenging year in the party's top position.

Last year, the Labor party secured its seventh consecutive victory in the ACT Assembly elections. The Liberals have not held power since former Chief Minister and Senator Gary Humphries was defeated by Jon Stanhope in the 2001 territory polls.

Leadership Change Announced

On Monday, Canberra Liberals leader Leanne Castley and deputy Jeremy Hanson declared they would step down to allow new leadership. Former radio announcer and current ACT Speaker Mark Parton is expected to assume the leadership role.

“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.

They added, “A vote will soon be held to elect a new leadership team, and neither of us will be contesting any leadership positions. We extend our full support and best wishes to those who will take on these important roles.”

Summary

The Canberra Liberals continue to struggle in opposition, changing leaders to improve their prospects ahead of the 2028 election.

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The Nightly — 2025-11-10