Well done to the ACT Libs. The most sensible way they could have gone about changing the guard was to sit around a table, work out their differences, and elect a bloke who has only recently decided to put his hand up for leader — but who has, for some time now, been by far their most electable potential leader — is to be commended.

Well done to Leanne Castley for graciously falling on her sword, and to Jeremy Hansen — the next best performer the Libs have — who has realised that, as talented as he is, he has had his go and is, rightly or wrongly, seen by many electors as yesterday’s man and too right-wing. He will, however, make an excellent Speaker, and Andrew Barr would be sensible to ignore Green requests for one of their own to take the role. Andrew would also be removing a real thorn in his side. Jeremy reminds me of Yvette Berry’s dad, Wayne Berry: an attack dog who became a good Speaker. Jeremy Hansen is an ideal fit for the position, and “Lt. Col. (Ret’d) Jeremy Hansen, Speaker of the ACTLA” has a certain ring to it.

I have told Mark Parton on a number of occasions since 2016 that he should throw his hat in the ring for leader, or at least deputy leader. He is very personable, has a degree of charisma and comes across as a genuinely nice guy (which he is). He is about the only major Liberal who has yet to have a go at the top job, but he comes to it at an ideal time.

I stand by my comments from several weeks ago that Leanne and Jeremy were a good team, but the fact is that it was unlikely the electorate were ever going to give them a go. Mark and his deputy, Deborah Morris, will be given a go, I believe. There is the “it’s time” factor, but also the fact that Mark especially works 24/7, door knocks anything standing still, and goes to the opening of an envelope. He is very media-savvy and uses social media well.

I’m delighted that Elizabeth Lee and Peter Cain are back in the fold, and all nine Liberals now need to get out there, listen to the electorate, keep the government to account, get all the positive media they can (Mark is good at this), and do the hard yards in developing sensible policies that will resonate with the people of the ACT.

If the local Libs can now stay focused and work hard for the next three years, I’d feel comfortable saying they should get 11 seats next time: three in Tuggeranong, two or three in Murrumbidgee, one or two in Molonglo, two in Ginninderra, and two to three in Yerrabi. They need to find two or three independents, ideally in the mould of Michael Moore. Also, if the Libs won 11 seats, the two current independents, Tom Emerson and Fiona Carrick, would be very silly not to vote the effervescent and popular Mark Parton in as Chief Minister.