2026-04-20
"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.
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.
We’ve raised the age of criminal responsibility, so children aren’t put in jail. We’ve got light rail, banned greyhound racing, taxed big corporations, strengthened renters’ rights and so much more.
As a party, the ACT Greens are a force to be reckoned with. We have demonstrated our impact both on the crossbench and in the Cabinet - driving change and being effective partners who delivered reformist and stable government.
I have had the honour of being the first Greens Speaker of a parliament anywhere in the world. I served as a Minister for 12 years, and have been Australia’s first Greens Attorney-General, Minister for Climate, Energy and Water, and Mental Health.
It has been a privilege to represent this community that cares so deeply for each other, for our environment, and for our future.
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.
I’m incredibly grateful to my family for their unwavering support and patience over the years, I could not have done this without them.
My heartfelt thanks to the constituents, advocates and stakeholders who have worked alongside me every step of the way. I want to thank the Canberra community, and especially those in my electorate of Kurrajong (and formerly Molonglo), for their support over the past 17 years.
I also want to thank my incredibly dedicated Greens colleagues, staff and volunteers, and the Office of the Legislative Assembly staff and ACT Government teams I have worked with across our public service."
STATEMENT ENDS
Shane’s History in the Legislative Assembly
Shane was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in October 2008 alongside Meredith Hunter, Amanda Bresnan, and Caroline Le Couteur.
Following his election he became the first Greens party Speaker in a parliament anywhere in the world.
In 2012 he was the only Greens MLA re-elected to the Legislative Assembly and held the sole balance of power. Following negotiations and an agreement for a range of policy commitments under a formal Parliamentary Agreement, he accepted a position in the Cabinet of the minority Labor Government, under then Chief Minister Katy Gallagher.
Following the 2016 Election he was once again joined in the Assembly by his Greens colleague, Caroline Le Couteur. Shane remained in the Cabinet of the minority Labor Government, with Caroline on the crossbench.
The Greens achieved their best result at any ACT election in 2020, when Shane was joined by Rebecca Vassorotti, Emma Davidson, Jo Clay, Andrew Braddock and Johnathan Davis. Shane, Rebecca and Emma formed a third of the Cabinet of the Labor-Greens Government, while Jo, Andrew and Johnathan, and later Laura Nuttall, sat on the crossbench.
In 2024, Shane was elected for his fifth term, joined by Greens MLAs Jo Clay, Andrew Braddock and Laura Nuttall. Following negotiations, all four chose to sit on the crossbench, providing supply and confidence to the minority Labor Government.
Key Achievements
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Entering Parliament from his former role in Greenpeace, Shane drove the push for the ACT to have ambitious, legislated emission reduction targets. This led to the ACT having 100% renewable electricity, and as Climate Minister, Shane led the ACT plan to begin phasing out polluting fossil fuel gas, developed an award winning EV strategy, and implemented the 30% tree canopy cover target, making the ACT Australia’s most progressive jurisdiction when it comes to comprehensive climate action.
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As Attorney-General, Shane introduced legislation for the ACT to become the first jurisdiction to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 14, recognising that prison is no place for a child, and that the best way to ensure young people can live fulfilling lives is to give them the critical support they need.
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After decades of advocacy, Shane’s position as the sole Greens MLA in balance of power was the turning point in delivering light rail to Canberra. The 2012 Parliamentary Agreement, which saw Shane become a Cabinet Minister, required the Government to deliver the construction of a light rail network.
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As Attorney General, Shane improved the rights of renters, implementing minimum energy efficiency standards, ending no-cause evictions, banning rent bidding and allowing renters to grow their own food.
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Shane brought an innovative and progressive lens to the ACT’s justice system, introducing the Charter of Rights for Victims of Crime, and advancing a nation-leading commitment to justice reinvestment that invests money in people instead of prisons, to prevent offending by addressing its underlying causes. He also introduced Winnunga Nimmityjah as a health provider at the AMC, the first Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation to operate inside a prison in Australia.
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As Mental Health Minister, Shane oversaw the introduction of the PACER model in the ACT, combining Police, Ambulance and Mental Health clinicians in a single mental health response team to improve patient care.
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First through advocacy, then as Minister, Shane initiated the Healthy Waterways program that invested around $120 million to improve water quality in our urban lakes and waterways. The program included construction of the many urban wetlands that are so popular across the city.
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Shane led the political charge to ban greyhound racing, and as Minister for Territory and Municipal Services delivered some of the most progressive animal welfare laws in the country, banning battery cages and sow stalls, puppy and kitten farming and introducing egg labelling requirements so consumers can be properly informed about their purchases.
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Thanks to persistent work by Shane and community advocates, the ACT became the first jurisdiction to trial pill testing at festivals, and ultimately the first jurisdiction with a permanent pill testing facility.
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In addition to being a Minister, Shane has introduced and passed 15 Private Members Bills during his time in the Assembly, including a Right to Housing in the Human Rights Act, and complete re-write of the Freedom of Information Act to improve access to information.