About Mark

From radio studios to the Assembly floor, Mark Parton has built a career powered by conversation, curiosity, and a healthy dose of self-awareness. Known for his candid, down-to-earth style, his journey into politics wasn’t meticulously mapped out, it evolved from decades spent listening to everyday Australians and telling their stories.

Born and raised in country Western Australia, Parton’s early years were shaped by a love of storytelling and a knack for connecting with people. He found his way into radio at a young age and never really left, spending more than 30 years behind the microphone across Australia. Eventually, he became a familiar voice in Canberra through roles at Mix 106.3 and 2CC, waking people up, keeping them company on the drive home, and occasionally stirring the pot.

Colleagues and listeners alike came to see him as approachable, authentic, and refreshingly unpolished in the best possible way. Alongside broadcasting, he worked as a social media consultant, proving he could keep up with the digital age, even if he still prefers a good old-fashioned chat.

In 2016, Parton swapped the studio for the ACT Legislative Assembly, representing Brindabella. His move into politics was less about ambition and more about action, turning the conversations he’d been having for decades into real outcomes. Since then, he has become a strong voice on housing affordability, homelessness, and cost-of-living pressures, often drawing directly on stories shared by his constituents.

Mark lives in South Tuggeranong with his wife and their two boisterous kelpies, Nic Nat and Gaffy. Outside of the Assembly, you can find Mark walking his dogs every day, doing the Tuggeranong or Point Hut Parkrun most Saturday mornings, cycling the streets of the Canberra, or posting videos on his popular TikTok account.