Leanne Castley Resigns from Canberra Liberals, Citing 'Toxic Culture'

Former Canberra Liberals leader Leanne Castley has resigned from the party and will join the crossbench, sitting as an independent for the rest of the term.

In a statement, she said she has "simply had enough of being part of an organisation with such a toxic culture".

"In the last 18 months, I have experienced bullying, intimidation, lies, and even a threat of physical assault," she said.

This morning, Ms Castley told 666 ABC Canberra that the bullying, toxicity and "constant undermining" had been prevalent since she was first elected to the leadership in 2024.

"It's distracting and it takes us away from the job that we're elected to do, and I want that focus back," she said.

She would also not be drawn on naming names, but confirmed she had referred the matter of physical violence to the party.

"It's not one person, it's not one issue, it's been an 18-month campaign," she said.

"At some point I had to put a line in the sand and say, okay, I'm walking away."

Current leader denies culture issue

Current Canberra Liberals leader Mark Parton said he would not comment on the "individual matters" raised by Ms Castley, but that he did not "condone bullying, intimidation or inappropriate behaviour of any kind".

"Where concerns have been raised, they've been treated seriously, but as is the path chosen by Leanne, I'm not going to sit on the radio and comment publicly on individual matters," he told 666 ABC Canberra.

He also denied the party had a culture issue.

"I reject the allegations about the toxic culture of the party," he said.

Castley: 'It's time to just let it go'

Ms Castley said the decision to leave the party was difficult, but "the right one for me and for Yerrabi".

"It's time," she said.

"It's time to just let it go, move forward, and do what I've been elected to do.

Ms Castley said the recent introduction of coercive control legislation had cemented her perspective.

"When the coercive control legislation came in, I thought to myself, 'This is the reason I'm in politics. It is to make great changes", she said.

Ms Castley also shut down rumours about joining One Nation.

"I have had no conversations with any other political parties," she said.

"I'm moving forward as an independent member for Yerrabi with the same Liberal values.

"I am the same person. The people that meet me on the street know that I'm going to fight for the same issues that I always have. I will just be doing it as an independent because that's what's important to me.

A year as Canberra Liberals leader

Ms Castley first joined the Canberra Liberals in 2020 as a member for Yerrabi.

She took over as party leader in October 2024, in the wake of Labor's seventh-straight election victory.

But just seven months ago she stepped down from the Canberra Liberals leadership, with Mark Parton elected the new leader in November 2025.

Deputy leader Jeremy Hanson also stepped down from his position, and Deborah Morris was appointed the new deputy leader.

Ms Castley had drawn criticism over a series of decisions while in leadership which saw Elizabeth Lee and Peter Cain shut out of decision-making before being "suspended indefinitely" from the party room after they crossed the floor during a vote about sitting weeks.

Their suspension was later revoked by Mr Parton.