The former leader of the Canberra Liberals has said the party's election result on Saturday was "very disappointing", and that they've "gone backwards" since he lead the party in 2016.
Jeremy Hanson posted on his Facebook page after ACT Labor declared victory in Saturday's territory election, extending their 23 years in government.
"It is obviously a very disappointing result for the Liberal Party overall particularly given there was such a mood for change," Mr Hanson said.
Current leader Elizabeth Lee told the ABC yesterday she was aware of conservative members in the party already discussing whether a leadership change was needed following the loss.
The ABC is projecting the Canberra Liberals will increase their share of seats in the Legislative Assembly from 9 to 10, but based on the current count, their primary vote has dipped by 0.9 per cent compared to the 2020 election.
Mr Hanson led the party from 2013 to 2016, and was deputy leader until the end of last year when he was replaced by Leanne Castley.
He was defeated by Ms Lee in a leadership ballot following the party's election loss in 2020.
There have been mixed responses to the Canberra Liberals' 2024 election results. (ABC News: David Sciasci)
The re-elected MLA for Murrumbidgee is aligned with more conservative elements within the party, and the ABC understands his statement has been interpreted by some within the Liberal Party as Mr Hanson signalling his intent to make a tilt for the top job.
"We should have done much better and instead the party has gone backwards in votes and seats since 2016 when we won 11 seats," Mr Hanson said.
"The people of Canberra need us to do better and I look forward to working hard over the next four years to serve my electorate but to also help position the Liberal Party for a much better result in 2028."
The party is expected to have a spill of the leadership after the final make-up of the Legislative Assembly is decided.
'Get a grip'
Yesterday, Ms Lee agreed with the sentiment that the party may be too far to the right, and that some MLAs would rather win an ideological argument than get elected to government.
Re-elected MLA for Brindabella Mark Parton said he agrees that analysis does apply to some members of the party.
Mark Parton has questioned MLAs who want to move the party to the right. (ABC News: David Sciasci)
"I would say to those members who are sitting back saying, 'oh, we've got to push off hard to the right', where is it that you guys expect that we would pick up those extra votes?" Mr Parton said.
"Do you think if we push to the right, that we're going to get votes from the Greens? Do you think we're going to get votes from Labor? Like, get a grip here."
Under Mr Hanson's leadership, the Liberals won 11 seats and garnered 36 per cent of the vote in 2016.
They slumped to 9 seats and around 34 per cent in 2020, and on the latest numbers have returned 10 seats and around 33 per cent of the vote this year.
Mr Hanson's personal vote in Murrumbidgee has followed a similar trajectory, moving from 22 per cent in 2016 to 12 per cent on the latest numbers for the weekend's election.
Members of the Liberal Party faithful gathered in Barton on Saturday to watch the election results roll in. (ABC News: David Sciasci)
Progressive crossbench elected
On ABC News Breakfast on Monday, Chief Minister Andrew Barr was again asked to respond to concerns about the state of Canberra's democracy, with Labor winning election after election.
He said the Canberra Liberals were "the most right wing branch of the Liberal Party in this country".
"There are crossbenchers who have been elected, in this instance where you expect a crossbench of at least five and possibly six members out of our 25 member Assembly, but they have generally represented progressive views," he said.
Andrew Barr said he's in the "second half" of his political career. (ABC News: Jostina Basta)
Asked if this will be his last term in the Assembly, Mr Barr said decisions about the next election would be made closer to the date.
"Clearly, I am in the second half of my political career," Mr Barr said.
"I really enjoy this job.
"The role of chief minister of the ACT, it's a hybrid of being the premier of the territory and the mayor of Canberra. So there's no other job in politics quite like it."