ACT Opposition Leader Mark Parton Confirms Sending Profane Text During Estimates

ACT Opposition Leader Mark Parton admitted to texting a profanity-laden message about his job during a budget estimates hearing and said the standards commissioner declined to investigate the complaint.

At a press conference on Thursday, ACT Opposition Leader Mark Parton confirmed that he sent a text stating "f*** my job is boring" during a budget estimates hearing. He rejected claims that the message had been sent to a sex worker, a detail that featured in an anonymous complaint lodged with the standards commissioner. The commissioner later contacted Parton to say the complaint would not be investigated, without providing an explanation for that decision.

A statement from Parton's spokesperson labeled the accusations as false, malicious and a clear smear campaign. According to the spokesperson, the alleged text was forwarded via SMS to three individuals on Friday, one of whom was Parton's wife. When questioned by one outlet, Parton defended the message as a private expression of frustration after long hours of holding the government to account, arguing that such private communications are not of public concern.