FED: ACT Liberal leader resigns, insists he wasn't pushed

AAP General News (Australia)
12-13-2007
FED: ACT Liberal leader resigns, insists he wasn't pushed

By Kate Corbett

CANBERRA, Dec 13 AAP - Following months of infighting and backstabbing, Bill Stefaniak
has stepped down as ACT Liberal leader and insists he was not pushed.

He quit as leader following a tumultuous week for the ACT Liberal Party, which expelled
former treasury spokesman Richard Mulcahy on Monday for creating disunity within the party.

Mr Mulcahy had been demoted to the backbenches due to his involvement in a federal
tribunal investigation, and then launched a stinging attack on the party and its leadership.

Mr Stefaniak said the disunity created by Mr Mulcahy had some role in his resignation,
but insists he was not pushed.

"I took this decision myself. I think it is an important one and at the end of the
day I am a team player," Mr Stefaniak told reporters.

"I do not have to be captain of the team to score the tries that win the game."

Mr Stefaniak told his six fellow members of the Legislative Assembly about his intention
to stand down in a meeting yesterday and a leadership vote was held today.

Zed Seselja was voted in as opposition leader unopposed. Brendan Smyth will take over
as deputy from Jacqui Burke.

Mr Stefaniak said he was "very comfortable" with the new leadership team which he said
was vital for re-establishing unity within the party.

"I feel though that there's been so much bickering within the party, our best chance
is something completely fresh and that's happened today," he said.

Mr Stefaniak entered the Legislative Assembly in 1989 and has been Liberal leader since May 2006.

While the past three years have been a period of instability in the party, Mr Stefaniak
said it was still hard to leave.

"I'm sad, to an extent, in a way I'm relieved," he said.

"I think that had it not been for all the trouble we've had in the party and had I
been a leader at a different time I clearly would've won the next election."

The next ACT election is scheduled for October 2008 and Mr Stefaniak is confident the
Liberals will put up a good fight.

"It is going to be hard - make no bones about it - but I think we're in with a big
show and we need to give it every effort."

AAP kc/sb/cjh/sp

KEYWORD: LIBERALS ACT LEAD

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.