The Canberra Liberals, officially known as the Liberal Party of Australia (Australian Capital Territory Division), is the division of the Liberal Party of Australia in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The party has been in opposition in the ACT Legislative Assembly for much of its existence, but held power with the support of minor parties and independents between 1989 and 1991 and again between 1995 and 2001.CONSTITUTION of the LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA (AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY DIVISION) , as amended November 2018 As of 2025, it is the only state or territory division of either major party to be unrepresented in the federal parliament.
History
The first Liberal branch in Canberra was formed in order to field a candidate in the newly created Division of Australian Capital Territory at the 1949 federal election. The first meeting of the branch was held at the Albert Hall on 27 January 1949. The inaugural meeting of the Canberra women's branch was held on 29 June 1949. By 1961, there were three branches of the Liberal Party in the ACT, and a branch of the Young Liberals was created around the same time.
The party held a number of seats in the Australian Capital Territory House of Assembly throughout its existence. In the first election under self-government in 1989 the Liberal Party won four seats. The Liberals were led in the Assembly by Trevor Kaine, initially in opposition but in December 1989 the party formed a coalition known as the Alliance with the Residents Rally that lasted from December 1989 until June 1991 when a dispute over school closures broke up the coalition and returned the parties to opposition. Kaine was briefly replaced as leader by Gary Humphries, but regained the position a month later. Two years later he was replaced by Kate Carnell.
At the 1995 election the Liberals won 7 seats and Carnell formed a minority government with the support of independent members Michael Moore and Paul Osborne. Carnell served as Chief Minister until October 2000 when she resigned in advance of a no confidence motion over the increased costs of the Canberra Stadium. She was succeeded by Humphries but the party lost power in the 2001 election. It has been in opposition ever since, having installed and removed multiple leaders including Brendan Smyth, Bill Stefaniak, Zed Seselja, Jeremy Hanson, Alistair Coe, Elizabeth Lee, and Leanne Castley. The current leader of the party is Mark Parton.
In the 2022 federal election, Seselja, who was the sole Canberra Liberals parliamentarian in federal parliament, lost his Senate seat to independent David Pocock. This left the Canberra Liberals with no representation in the 47th Parliament. A review into the territory division's defeat at the election would be headed by former WA Liberal leader Mike Nahan and former Victorian Liberal senator Helen Kroger. The review would include an examination of the Canberra Liberals and its electoral performance among different voter segments, and would propose strategies to regain federal representation.
Leadership
Leaders Image Name Electorate Term start Term end Time in officeChief Minister Jim Leedman – 1966 30 October 1974 c. N/A Peter Hughes Canberra 30 October 1974 3 January 1977 Jim Leedman Canberra 20 January 1977 10 December 1988 Trevor Kaine — 10 December 1988 12 June 1991 Follett Himself Follett Gary Humphries — 12 June 1991 22 July 1991 Trevor Kaine — 22 July 1991 21 April 1993 Kate Carnell Molonglo 21 April 1993 17 October 2000 Herself Gary Humphries Molonglo 18 October 2000 Himself Stanhope Brendan Smyth Brindabella 16 May 2006 Bill Stefaniak Ginninderra 16 May 2006 13 December 2007 Zed Seselja Molonglo Brindabella 13 December 2007 11 February 2013 Gallagher Jeremy Hanson Molonglo Murrumbidgee 11 February 2013 25 October 2016 Barr Alistair Coe Yerrabi 25 October 2016 27 October 2020 Elizabeth Lee Kurrajong 27 October 2020 31 October 2024 Leanne Castley Yerrabi 31 October 2024 10 November 2025 Mark Parton Brindabella 10 November 2025 Incumbent
Deputy Leaders
Deputy Leader Date started Date finished Deputy Chief MinisterTony De Domenico 1992 9 January 1997 1995–1997Gary Humphries 9 January 1997 31 January 1997 1997Trevor Kaine 31 January 1997 17 February 1997 1997Gary Humphries 17 February 1997 17 October 2000 1997–2000Brendan Smyth 17 October 2000 25 November 2002 2000–2001Bill Stefaniak 25 November 2002 2004 Richard Mulcahy 2004 16 May 2006 Jacqui Burke16 May 200613 December 2007Brendan Smyth13 December 200711 February 2013Alistair Coe 11 February 2013 25 October 2016 Nicole Lawder 25 October 2016 27 October 2020 Giulia Jones 27 October 2020 January 2022 Jeremy HansonFebruary 20227 December 2023Leanne Castley7 December 202331 October 2024Jeremy Hanson31 October 202410 November 2025Deborah Morris10 November 2025Incumbent
Election results Legislative Assembly Election Leader Votes % Seats +/– Position Status1989 Trevor Kaine 21,088 14.87 4 2nd 1992 45,203 29.03 2 2nd 1995 Kate Carnell 66,895 40.48 1 1st 1998 68,221 37.83 0 1st 2001 Gary Humphries 60,390 31.64 0 2nd 2004 Brendan Smyth 71,083 34.81 0 2nd 2008 Zed Seselja 66,861 31.56 1 2nd 2012 86,032 38.90 2 1st 2016 Jeremy Hanson 89,632 36.72 3 2nd 2020 Alistair Coe 90,955 33.81 2 2nd 2024 Elizabeth Lee 91,652 33.45 0 2nd
References