Leanne Castley

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Leanne Castley
MLA
Member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly
for Yerrabi
Incumbent
Assumed office
17 October 2020
Preceded byJames Milligan
15th Leader of the Opposition
12th Leader of the Canberra Liberals
In office
31 October 2024 – 10 November 2025
DeputyJeremy Hanson
Preceded byElizabeth Lee
Succeeded byMark Parton
Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Deputy Leader of the Canberra Liberals
In office
4 December 2023 – 31 October 2024
LeaderElizabeth Lee
Preceded byJeremy Hanson
Succeeded byJeremy Hanson
Personal details
Born1974 (age 51–52)[1]
PartyIndependent (since 2026)
Other party
Liberal (until 2026)

Leanne Castley (born 1974) is an Australian politician serving as a member for Yerrabi in the ACT Legislative Assembly. Formerly Leader of the Canberra Liberals and Leader of the Opposition from 2024 to 2025, she left the party on 3 June 2026 and currently sits as an independent.

Political career

Castley ran for the 2019 Australian Federal Election as the Liberal Party candidate for the Division of Fenner and was unsuccessful.[2] Castley put her hand up for the 2020 Australian Capital Territory election and won one of the five seats in Yerrabi, replacing one of the incumbent Liberals James Milligan.[3][4] Following her election Castley was immediately named as Assistant Shadow Minister for Economic Development, Assistant Shadow Minister for Tourism and Major Projects, Shadow Minister for Environment and Heritage, Shadow Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction, and Shadow Minister for Business as of part of Elizabeth Lee's new Shadow Cabinet.[5]

Castley was elected as Deputy Leader of the Opposition following a deputy leadership spill on 4 December 2023 replacing Jeremy Hanson.[6] After the Opposition shadow cabinet reshuffle on 7 December 2023, Castley gained the portfolios: Families, Youth and Community Services; Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, as well as the assistant shadow portfolios: Women; and Arts.[7] These portfolios were added to her existing portfolios of Business; Health and Wellbeing.

Castley was elected as Liberal leader on 31 October 2024 after the party's seventh consecutive loss at the 2024 ACT election, defeating Lee in a leadership spill.[8] Castley herself resigned on 10 November 2025 and was succeeded by Mark Parton.

On 3 June 2026, Castley announced that she had left the Liberal Party citing a toxic internal party culture including "bullying, intimidation, lies and a threat of physical assault". She denied speculation that she might join One Nation which established a branch in the ACT the previous year. She will remain an MLA, sitting as an independent "with the same Liberal values" for the remainder of her term.[9]

Personal life

Castley was born in the rural NSW town of Gunnedah, however grew up in the Canberra suburb of Charnwood.[10] In her inaugural speech Castley described herself as "just a chick from Charny" and a battler.[11] In her youth Castley often found herself at her grandparents sheep and cattle farm at Bookham, beyond Yass, mustering sheep and riding dirt bikes.[12]

Castley owned and operated a car yard business that failed during the 2008 financial crisis.[13]

Castley went on to work at an IT Help Desk before gaining a Diploma in Project Management and working at AFP and the Department of Defence as a manager.

Castley is a country music singer who regularly performs at local pubs and clubs in Canberra, and has written her own album Perfect Day.[14]

References

  1. "Leanne Castley". smartvote Australia. Australian National University.
  2. "Fenner - Federal Electorate, Candidates, Results". abc.net.au. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  3. "ACT Election 2020 Results". ABC News.
  4. Lewis, Kathryn (19 October 2020). "'Can't quite believe it': The new faces entering the ACT Legislative Assembly". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  5. Meikle, Ian (4 November 2020). "Lee reveals the Liberals' new shadow ministry". Canberra CityNews. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  6. "Jeremy Hanson dumped as deputy leader of ACT Liberals". www.abc.net.au. 4 December 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  7. Bladen, Lucy (7 December 2023). "Hanson dumped from shadow cabinet". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  8. "'A lot we can change': Castley speaks after being elected Liberals leader". The Canberra Times. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  9. Midena, Kate (3 June 2026). "Former Canberra Liberals leader Leanne Castley leaves party, citing 'toxic culture, threat of physical assault'". 666 ABC Canberra. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ABC News. Archived from the original on 2 June 2026. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
  10. White, Daniella (6 February 2021). "'We were flying': how losing it all led Leanne to politics". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  11. White, Daniella (2 December 2020). "'Just a chick from Charny': new Lib says ordinary people have had a gutful". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  12. "Leanne Castley". Canberra Liberals. 21 December 2020.
  13. White, Daniella (5 February 2021). "'We were flying': how losing it all led Leanne to politics". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  14. "Leanne Castley, Liberal for Yerrabi". Canberra Liberals. Retrieved 19 October 2020.