Former opposition leader quits Liberals over bullying

A former regional opposition leader has left the Liberal Party, citing threats of violence against them and a toxic culture of leaving the organisation.

Canberra Liberal Leanne Castley has announced she will leave the party and stand as an independent in the ACT parliament.

“I am tired of being part of an organization with such a toxic culture,” he said in the statement.

“Over the last 18 months I have been subjected to bullying, intimidation, lies and even threats of physical attack.

“I can no longer be part of an organization that tolerates this behavior.”

Ms Castley became ACT opposition leader after the party’s election defeat in 2024.

But he resigned as party leader in November after his decision to remove two Liberals from the party room (his predecessor in the role of Peter Cain and Elizabeth Lee) caused uproar.

Ms Castley later told ABC Radio that the bullying towards her began when she was opposition leader.

“This isn’t one person, it’s not one issue, it’s an 18-month campaign,” he said.

“At one point I had to draw a line in the sand and say ‘okay, I’m going’.”

Liberal leader Mark Parton denied the party had a toxic culture but said the organization had addressed bullying concerns.

“I do not condone bullying, intimidation or inappropriate behavior of any kind,” he told ABC Radio.