To some, the idea of the Canberra Liberals — long considered one of the most conservative branches of the party in the country — and the ACT Greens teaming up was laughable.
Many in ACT Labor didn’t think it was so funny.
And as it turned out, a majority of Greens members were also concerned, and by the end of January, the idea — discussed over the summer — had been shelved.
After the 2024 election, the Greens had decided to sit on the crossbench instead of renewing their coalition with Labor.
Yesterday, party leader Shane Rattenbury announced he’d be leaving ACT politics after 17 years in the Legislative Assembly.
He acknowledged that had a power sharing arrangement with the Liberals gone ahead, he would have stuck around for longer.
So, did the failed idea of a Greens-Liberals coalition contribute to his departure?
Dealing with a ‘forever government’
Departing comments from Mr Rattenbury, who’d served in several ministerial positions in coalition, point to a view that when it comes to government it’s often better to be in the tent.
“We do see a government that is in place now that has been there for a long time,” Mr Rattenbury told ABC Radio Canberra.
After more than 24 years in power, ACT Labor has been called a “forever government”.
“They’re very set in their ways,” Mr Rattenbury said.
“The public service is very habituated to the way they do things, and so yes, I did believe it was worth exploring the idea of whether we could do something different.”
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr and Shane Rattenbury worked closely together while their parties were in coalition. (ABC News: Toby Hunt)
He said when the prospect of an alliance with the Liberals came up, “it wasn’t something I anticipated”.
“But there was an opportunity there to open up a discussion, and I think we have a duty to have those kind of discussions, to explore those issues, to consider the possibilities,” he said.
“Even within my own party, whilst there were some very vocal critics, it certainly was not universal.”
Mr Rattenbury said he was disappointed the conversation “probably didn’t get explored as thoroughly in our party as it might have”.
“Some people just were not prepared to entertain the conversation where the other members wanted to,” he said.
It was an audacious idea to seize power, but would ACT voters have bought it?
“And I think it would have been valuable to explore it further, but we landed where we did. I’m okay with that — that’s the point of having a party.”
Mr Rattenbury denies the blowback from the power-sharing discussions with the Liberals was the straw that broke the camel’s back, but it can’t have helped.
“There’s a cumulative toll of politics,” Mr Rattenbury said.
“It is just time, fatigue, toll.
“And I’m at an age where I have got time to do one more career left in my life and I’m really keen to get out there and find out what that is.”
‘He was ambitious’
Former Greens MLA Caroline Le Couteur, who sat on the crossbench while Mr Rattenbury was in cabinet from 2016 to 2020, agrees there’s “used by dates” in politics.
“A time comes when it’s time for a change, and I think Shane has recognised it, from his point of view — and in the best interests of the people of Canberra even,” Ms Le Couteur said.
“Change is good, new representation is good and Shane has made an incredible contribution to politics in Canberra.”
Ms Le Couteur said Mr Rattenbury had been a good choice for the party as leader — despite sometimes simply being the default due to being the only Greens member in the parliament.
Former ACT Greens MLA Caroline Le Couteur praised Shane Rattenbury’s leadership. (ABC News: Adam Kennedy)
“He had a very good grasp of what the other parties were interested in and where they could go,” she said.
“He was ambitious — and if you’re not ambitious you’re not really suited to being the leader because the party should always be wanting to do at least a bit more than it’s currently achieving.
“And he had great belief that we could do more than we were doing.
“He’s a very intelligent person and has an excellent memory. Those are really important attributes of all politicians, but especially if you want to be the leader of the party.”
Ms Le Couteur also defended Mr Rattenbury’s record in coalition governments.
“The Greens had balance of power, the Greens were never the sole government, the Greens were never the majority party,” she said.
“The Greens did their upmost to get the best possible outcome they could in the circumstances they were in.
“Sometimes that meant compromises, sometimes it didn’t. Sometimes we pushed the Labor Party a lot further than it would have gone, sometimes that wasn’t the case.”
Shane Rattenbury held various roles in cabinet while the Greens were in a coalition with Labor. (ABC News: Jake Evans)
She said she did not believe the Greens “sold their soul” by being in coalition, but said being in Mr Rattenbury’s position had required compromise.
“Politics is the art of the possible and the art of compromise,” she said.
“It’s a lot easier if you’re not in balance of power, you can be ideologically purer — that is true.”
Could Vassarotti return?
With Mr Rattenbury’s exit, a former Greens MLA who was forced to consider alternative careers could make a comeback.
Rebecca Vassarotti, who also served as a former minister in the Greens coalition with Labor and as deputy Greens leader, lost her seat when the 2024 election saw a sizeable swing to Independents for Canberra’s Thomas Emerson.
ABC News chief elections analyst Casey Briggs said under the ACT’s Hare-Clark electoral system, Ms Vassarotti would have a strong chance of making a return to the Legislative Assembly if she stepped forward to be considered to fill the casual vacancy.
Rebecca Vassarotti served as ACT environment minister while in office. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)
“In simple terms, each ballot paper that contributed to Shane Rattenbury’s election in 2024 will be recounted and distributed to the next preferenced candidate,” he said.
“Essentially, it will determine which candidate was most preferred by Shane Rattenbury voters, other than Shane Rattenbury.
“If she puts her hand up for the countback, Rebecca Vassaroti would be expected to fill Shane Rattenbury’s vacancy in the Legislative Assembly.”
Ms Vassaroti was the second-placed Greens candidate after Mr Rattenbury in the 2024 election, Mr Briggs said.
“With her profile, it would be surprising if she didn’t stay ahead of other candidates,” he said.
Ms Vassarotti reportedly resigned as the Greens’ campaign team convenor over the party’s approach to its talks with the Canberra Liberals.
She’s yet to confirm whether she wants to return to the Legislative Assembly.
Jo Clay is the deputy leader of the ACT Greens. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)
As for who’ll be the ongoing party leader, that too isn’t yet clear.
Under the Greens’ constitution, once Mr Rattenbury’s resignation is official, current deputy leader Jo Clay will assume the leadership until an election can be held by secret ballots of the party’s membership.
That process isn’t expected to occur until May at the earliest.
Ms Clay, and the other MLAs Andrew Braddock and Laura Nuttall, all declined to comment on whether they’ll nominate for the top job.
