The stage has been set for a rematch between two former foes. “I can confirm today that I will be putting my hand back up for the leadership” “I still believe that I am the best person to lead the Canberra liberals to the 2028 election” Last week, former party leader Jeremy Hanson revealed he would make a tilt for the top job “I'll be putting my hand up for the leadership of the Canberra Liberals looking ahead to 2028” Mr Hanson led the party to a 2016 election loss, delivering 11 seats and a 2.2 per cent swing against them. He then contested the leadership in 2020 losing to Ms Lee. Mr Hanson held the deputy leadership role and acted as leader while Ms lee was on maternity leave. But last year was dumped in favour of Leanne Castley. Today, Ms lee extended an olive branch to Mr Hanson “If I am privileged to be leader. I would really, really like for Jeremy to play an instructive a very, very important role in my shadow cabinet.” Ms Lee, like Mr Hanson last week, sought to downplay internal differences between conservatives and moderates. “It's about making sure that Canberra is getting the services that they deserve” Former liberals leader and chief minister Gary Humphries was less reserved in his comments. “She's more of a centrist and I think that to win an election in the ACT, the liberal party has got to have a moderate-leaning leader” The leadership and deputy leadership positions will be spilled at a party room meeting on Thursday and it's not yet clear if anyone else will run. Ms Lee today wouldn't confirm whether she believes she has the numbers, saying only that she'd had "fruitful" discussions with party colleagues who had expressed a desire for stability If successful, and if she stays on for the full term, Ms Lee will become the territory's longest serving opposition leader.
