New Canberra Liberals president Adam Morris (speaking). Photo: Facebook.
Canberra Liberals Leader Mark Parton has played down talk of internal divisions after the Right reasserted itself in the weekend’s elections for office bearers at the party’s Annual General Meeting.
Adam Morris, the husband of Mr Parton’s deputy, Deborah Morris, was elected party president over Sam Doyle and acting president Karen Walsh.
The Brindabella-based couple are considered close to former senator and party power broker Zed Seselja, and will now sit together on the management committee.
The Right also captured the vice-presidency with Patrick Fazzone.
Mr Morris takes over from Nick Tyrrell, who resigned when he won preselection as the Liberals’ lead Senate candidate for the next federal election.
Mr Tyrrell’s election as president in 2024 by 177 votes to 116, along with other post-Zed figures, was hailed at the time as a shift to the centre for the party.
The desire for change was first signalled at a rowdy AGM last November, where longstanding president John Cziesla, who had the backing of Zed Seselja and Jeremy Hanson, was booted for an empty chair 117 votes to 122.
Mr Cziesla launched an appeal against the decision, which was ultimately unsuccessful.
In a social media video, Mr Parton congratulated the new office bearers and made light of the return to the Right.
“I do find it amusing that most of the commentary about our party events comes from people who are way outside of the tent,” he said.
“And most of it is based on this fixation that they have with internal drama.
“Not really sure where they’re coming from, but we’ve got a great team that’s been installed, and I look forward to working with everyone on it.”
It is understood that numbers at the AGM on Saturday were well down on previous meetings.
Mr Parton, a party moderate, emerged from the party room ruck last month as Leader after a year of bitter division between Liberal MLAs, notably Peter Cain and Elizabeth Lee, who refused to sit in shadow cabinet under Leanne Castley’s leadership.
He now has the job of healing those divisions and welding together a competitive team for 2028.
Former Young Liberals president Brody Taylor won the vote for Policy Committee Chair.
Peter Peppas is Finance Committee Chair, and James Daniels is the Honorary Treasurer
Nathan Burraston, Megan Fox, Joe Lavery and Rebekah Russell-Bennett will sit on the Policy Committee, while Arthur Potter will be the Federal Regional and Rural Committee Representative.
