It's been a pretty good week to be Mark Parton. At the very least, he will now have his photo added to that crowded wall in the Assembly alongside other former Liberal Party leaders.

That wall does have a kind of haunted feel, slightly evoking the halls of Hogwarts with images of luckless leaders-past like Alistair Coe.

It might be tempting to say Parton has Steven Bradbury'd his way here. Except Bradbury raised his arms in triumph, whereas, in all probability, Parton too will slam into the side of the ice rink like all before him since the ancient times of Carnell and Humphries.

And yet. And yet.

Could Parton's undeniable talent for communicating be the thing that cuts through and cuts down the indomitable force that is Andrew Barr's Labor?

Parton has certainly started well.

His op

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