“Green gold:” Former Greens energy minister who delivered 100 pct renewables calls time on political career

Shane Rattenbury, the leader of the ACT Greens and the first Greens speaker of the parliament anywhere in the world, is retiring from politics after 17 years in the territory’s Legislative Assembly.

Rattenbury, hailed by Australian Greens founder Bob Brown as “Green gold,” announced his retirement on Monday, calling time on a career that has helped to position the nation’s capital as a global leader in climate action.

According to the Greens website, Rattenbury first joined the party when he was a law student at Canberra’s Australian Nation University. Before entering politics, he worked for Greenpeace Australia and in 2007 led a delegation at climate talks in Bali, which kicked off the process for the next phase of the Kyoto Protocol.

First elected to the ACT Legislative Assembly a year later, in 2008, Rattenbury helped to establish the territory’s legislated emission reduction target of net zero by 2045 in 2010. By 2020, Rattenbury was minister for emissions reduction when the ACT hit its 100 per cent renewable energy target.

As minister for climate and sustainability, Rattenbury led the ACT’ plan’s exit from fossil gas, including by brokering a September 2024 deal between the ACT and Albanese governments to bolster work to electrify homes and businesses across the territory. He also developed an award winning EV strategy.

“Today I am announcing my retirement from ACT politics, deeply grateful for the opportunity to have served this community in the Legislative Assembly for more than 17 years,” Rattenbury said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Canberrans have voted the Greens into sole balance of power for all 17 years of my political career, and we’ve been able to use it to make real change for our community – things many people once thought impossible.

“The ACT is now recognised as a global leader on climate action, with ambitious legislated emissions reductions targets, 100% renewable electricity, strong electric vehicle uptake, and we have started to phase out fossil fuel gas.

“It has been a privilege to represent this community that cares so deeply for each other, for our environment, and for our future.”

Bob Brown, the founder and first leader of the Australian Greens, described Rattenbury as “Green gold,” for his “two decades of exemplary political representation.”

“Shane Rattenbury is a person of great integrity, intelligence and compassion,” Brown said in a statement.

“He showed how well the Greens can work with a Labor government as well as talk with conservatives in a way that retains Green ideals but fosters the wider interests of an electorate wanting politicians to put the community, not themselves, first.

“I look forward to seeing more of Shane in his retirement from politics and wish him more success in what will be, no doubt, a long career ahead.”

Rattenbury says that while he is quitting politics, his plans for the future are unlikely to deviate much from the formula of the past nearly 30 years.

“I have given my all to this role and now it is time to think about the next phase of my life. Delivering environmental and social justice will be at the centre of my next steps.”

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