ACT Greens member Laura Nuttall will nominate for the MLA countback for the seat of Brindabella, previously occupied by Johnathan Davis, who resigned earlier this month. The casual vacancy will be determined through a countback process on Monday 27 November.
“I’m nominating for the seat of Brindabella because I want to help the Greens fight for justice for the people and the environment,” Ms Nuttall said.
Ms Nuttall was born in Canberra, and grew up in Tuggeranong. Now 24 years old, she would be the youngest ever Greens representative elected to any Australian parliament, and the first Gen Z Member of the ACT Legislative Assembly.
“If I can be the one to get my foot in the door, I intend to hold it open for more young people,” Ms Nuttall said.
“We’re going to bear the consequences of the decisions taken in here for the longest. We need a seat at the table.”
Ms Nuttall is passionate about environmental and economic justice, and young peoples’ participation in decision-making that affects their lives.
“The environment is a massive priority for me, and, if you look at the at the seat of Brindabella, about one-third of it is people and the rest is the huge Namadgi National Park,” Ms Nuttall said. “We need to look after the environment not just for the people, but for the animals and plants that are intrinsically worth protecting.”
She recently graduated from her bachelors in Asia Pacific studies and Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. Since then, she has worked in the ACT public service with Libraries ACT.
Ms Nuttall joined the Greens in 2018 to push for faster action on climate change and refugee rights. At age 20, she ran as a candidate for Brindabella in the 2020 ACT Election, to champion the movement and its people, and the ACT Greens’ vision for a better normal.
“I’d be really proud to represent the people of Tuggeranong and help the Greens continue the important work to ensure the ACT remains one of the most environmentally and socially progressive places in Australia,” Ms Nuttall said.
Shane Rattenbury, Leader of the ACT Greens, said he and his colleagues would be “thrilled” to have Ms Nuttall join the Greens team in the Assembly.
“Laura is clearly driven by the intersecting problems around the environment, inequality, and the intergenerational impact of those,” Mr Rattenbury said. “Laura would bring an important perspective to the Greens Party Room as we work together to improve life for Canberrans.”
