Recent from talks
Shane Rattenbury
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
Shane Rattenbury
Shane Stephen Rattenbury (born 25 August 1971) is an Australian former politician who served as a member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly from 2008 to 2026 and various ministerial roles from 2012 to 2024. Rattenbury is a member of the ACT Greens and served as party leader from 2012 to 2026, leading the party into coalition governments with the territory Labor Party for three terms.
Rattenburry ran as a candidate for the ACT Greens in several elections before succeeding in the seven-member electorate of Molonglo in 2008 where he served until it was abolished in 2016. He successfully ran in the new five-member electorate of Kurrajong and comfortably held the seat for the rest of his time in politics. In his first term in parliament, Rattenbury was elected Speaker of the Assembly, and was the first Speaker in any parliament in the world representing a Green political party.
Following the 2012 territory election, Rattenbury was left as the sole Greens MLA and sole crossbencher, being the kingmaker for the next government. He ultimately supported Katy Gallagher of Labor and formed the first Labor–Greens coalition government in mainland Australia, and to date the only one in the country to last for more than a single term. Rattenbury served as minister responsible for non-Attorney-General justice portfolios in the Second Gallagher ministry. In the First Barr ministry, Rattenbury took on further portfolio responsibilities including working on Transport Reform and Sports and Recreation.
At the 2016 election, the Greens gained a second seat and the coalition was renewed with Rattenbury elevated to more senior ministerial portfolios including Climate Change and Sustainability, Education, and Mental Health. He led the ACT Greens to their best ever election result in 2020, winning six seats. He was joined in the Fourth Barr ministry by two other Greens ministers for the first time. Among other new portfolios, he was elevated to the Attorney-General ministry, the highest ranking ministry a Greens MP has ever held in Australia.
Following the 2024 election where the party lost two seats to independents, the party moved back to cross-bench, supporting a minority Labor government under a confidence and supply agreement. Over the 2025–2026 parliamentary Summer break, he controversially undertook discussions with the Canberra Liberals about the feasibility and prospect of a Greens–Liberal government as a way to address issues relating to the ACT's "forever Labor government". The discussions did not amount to any change of government, but did spark membership backlash within the Greens.
On 20 April 2026, Rattenbury announced his retirement from politics after 17 years. He resigned on 15 May 2026, triggering a countback in Kurrajong and a leadership election. Previously Deputy Leader Jo Clay has succeeded him as leader in the interim.
Rattenbury first moved to Canberra in 1984. He attended Canberra Grammar School and went on to gain a BEc and LLB(Honours) from the Australian National University and commenced employment, working with the Australian Government Department of Industry, Science and Tourism. Prior to his election to the Assembly, Rattenbury travelled between Amsterdam and Australia as the International Political Director of Greenpeace International. During this time, he gained publicity for his work on global campaigns on climate change and whaling.
In the 1996 federal election, Rattenbury was the Greens candidate for the newly created Division of Namadgi in the southern suburbs of Canberra. He came in 3rd with 7.22% of the primary vote.
Hub AI
Shane Rattenbury AI simulator
(@Shane Rattenbury_simulator)
Shane Rattenbury
Shane Stephen Rattenbury (born 25 August 1971) is an Australian former politician who served as a member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly from 2008 to 2026 and various ministerial roles from 2012 to 2024. Rattenbury is a member of the ACT Greens and served as party leader from 2012 to 2026, leading the party into coalition governments with the territory Labor Party for three terms.
Rattenburry ran as a candidate for the ACT Greens in several elections before succeeding in the seven-member electorate of Molonglo in 2008 where he served until it was abolished in 2016. He successfully ran in the new five-member electorate of Kurrajong and comfortably held the seat for the rest of his time in politics. In his first term in parliament, Rattenbury was elected Speaker of the Assembly, and was the first Speaker in any parliament in the world representing a Green political party.
Following the 2012 territory election, Rattenbury was left as the sole Greens MLA and sole crossbencher, being the kingmaker for the next government. He ultimately supported Katy Gallagher of Labor and formed the first Labor–Greens coalition government in mainland Australia, and to date the only one in the country to last for more than a single term. Rattenbury served as minister responsible for non-Attorney-General justice portfolios in the Second Gallagher ministry. In the First Barr ministry, Rattenbury took on further portfolio responsibilities including working on Transport Reform and Sports and Recreation.
At the 2016 election, the Greens gained a second seat and the coalition was renewed with Rattenbury elevated to more senior ministerial portfolios including Climate Change and Sustainability, Education, and Mental Health. He led the ACT Greens to their best ever election result in 2020, winning six seats. He was joined in the Fourth Barr ministry by two other Greens ministers for the first time. Among other new portfolios, he was elevated to the Attorney-General ministry, the highest ranking ministry a Greens MP has ever held in Australia.
Following the 2024 election where the party lost two seats to independents, the party moved back to cross-bench, supporting a minority Labor government under a confidence and supply agreement. Over the 2025–2026 parliamentary Summer break, he controversially undertook discussions with the Canberra Liberals about the feasibility and prospect of a Greens–Liberal government as a way to address issues relating to the ACT's "forever Labor government". The discussions did not amount to any change of government, but did spark membership backlash within the Greens.
On 20 April 2026, Rattenbury announced his retirement from politics after 17 years. He resigned on 15 May 2026, triggering a countback in Kurrajong and a leadership election. Previously Deputy Leader Jo Clay has succeeded him as leader in the interim.
Rattenbury first moved to Canberra in 1984. He attended Canberra Grammar School and went on to gain a BEc and LLB(Honours) from the Australian National University and commenced employment, working with the Australian Government Department of Industry, Science and Tourism. Prior to his election to the Assembly, Rattenbury travelled between Amsterdam and Australia as the International Political Director of Greenpeace International. During this time, he gained publicity for his work on global campaigns on climate change and whaling.
In the 1996 federal election, Rattenbury was the Greens candidate for the newly created Division of Namadgi in the southern suburbs of Canberra. He came in 3rd with 7.22% of the primary vote.
Recent media