ACT opposition leader admits texting ‘f— my job is boring’, refuses to answer sex worker rumour

ACT Opposition Leader Mark Parton has admitted texting “f--- my job is boring” during a budget estimates hearing, but denied the message was sent to a sex worker.

Parton refused to say whether he had ever engaged a sex worker when asked four separate times during a press conference addressing the allegation on Thursday.

“I’m not going to entertain questions that are completely removed from that and that are not in the public interest,” he said.

“Are you demonising sex workers? I don’t really understand the point of the question.”

An anonymous complaint alleging Parton texted a sex worker during the budget estimates hearing on Friday was made to Speaker Jeremy Hanson.

The Canberra Times has reported a copy of the exchange shared on social media by a person claiming to be the sex worker.

In it, the sender shared an image taken from inside the hearing with the message: “And f--- my job is boring. Wanna swap.”

A recording of the budget estimates hearing shows the party leader repeatedly on his phone.

Parton admitted writing the text message but denied sending it to a sex worker.

He refused to say who it was sent to, claiming it was not in the public interest.

Parton said the Legislative Assembly’s Commissioner for Standards has advised him that the complaint would not be investigated.

He has referred the matter to the police for investigation, claiming he is being harassed and unknown people are trying to cause damage to him.

Asked whether it was appropriate to send private messages during the hearing, Parton said he has an “off-the-cuff larrikin communication style”.

“I understand that most people’s perception of budget estimates hearings is that they’re pretty boring,” he said.

“Now you know, again, I’m of the belief that we’re able to prosecute some pretty solid things in those hearings, and that’s what we’ll continue to do. But we’re also humans.”

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Parton said he would not resign and that he had the support of his party and constituents.

“They’re dismayed as I am, they’re you know they’re a little disappointed that we’re talking about this,” he said.

Acting Federal Opposition Leader Jane Hume said she was unaware about the matter.

“If I don’t know anything about it, I really can’t answer the question. But you know, so that’s literally the first I’ve heard of it,” she told reporters at a press conference.

The ACT Liberals have been in opposition in the ACT for the last 25 years.

Parton, who is the third leader since the 2024 election, makes about $337,000 a year as the opposition leader.

He has been serving as opposition leader since November after Leanne Castley resigned from the party due to allegations of bullying and a toxic culture to sit as an independent.