ACT Leader Mark Parton Admits Sending Boring Text

Mark Parton, the leader of the opposition Liberal Party in the Australian Capital Territory, has admitted to sending a text message complaining his job was boring during a parliamentary committee meeting, while denying an allegation that the message was sent to a sex worker. The admission came on Thursday, August 6, 2026, after Parton initially dismissed the complaint as a political smear.

The controversy centered on a text message reportedly sent by Parton last month, which included an expletive and the phrase, "my job is boring. Wanna swap?" The message was accompanied by a picture taken during a committee hearing. A complaint was lodged this week alleging the recipient was a sex worker, a claim that garnered significant media attention.

Facing journalists, Parton confirmed he sent the text but firmly rejected the characterization of its recipient. He declined to identify who received the message, stating he would not entertain questions he deemed outside the public interest. In his defense, Parton argued that sending private messages during official proceedings is common and that he was still fulfilling his duty to hold the government to account. He described his own...