The ACT Greens are optimistic they will hold onto their seat in the electorate of Brindabella, previously held by Johnathan Davis, despite possible challenges from other candidates.

Laura Nuttall, described as a young and energetic ACT Greens member, has been nominated for the seat. The casual vacancy will be determined through a countback process on Monday.

Labor candidate Taimus Werner-Gibbings is another strong contender.

“We’re certainly very hopeful that Laura will be successful in that process,” ACT Greens party leader Shane Rattenbury said.

“If she’s successful in the countback, I think she’ll be an excellent Member of the Assembly. She’s full of energy, born and bred in Tuggeranong, she’s really committed to the area, and the local electors will really take to her.”

Ms Nuttall, 24 years old, would be the youngest ever Greens representative elected to any Australian parliament, and the first Gen Z Member of the ACT Legislative Assembly.

She has a bachelor’s degree in Asia Pacific studies and Politics, Philosophy, and Economics, and works 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.

“It would be fantastic to see younger voices represented in the parliament,” Mr Rattenbury said.

He predicts that Ms Nuttall’s “younger take on things” and “deep connections into the community” will “bring a lot to our party room and to the Assembly”.

The 2024 ACT general election will be held in October 2024. However, Mr Rattenbury said, Ms Nuttall is focused on being elected on Monday “and then getting out there in the community, chatting to people here about what their issues are, and making sure that she’s doing the best job that she can as a local member”.

Mr Rattenbury said the Greens party members in Brindabella were “very clear that the Greens are still there for the people of Brindabella, that they are part of that community.

“They’ll be working hard in the run-up to next year’s election, both for Laura to be an effective local member and hopefully for the Greens to continue representing Brindabella after the next election. All our members on the ground in Tuggeranong are just so committed to that area, and they really want to show the Tuggeranong community that we’re still there for them.”

Davis inquiry

Mr Davis, 31, resigned earlier this month following allegations he had a (consensual and legal) relationship with a 17-year-old, and rumours he had slept with a 15-year-old. (Mr Davis denies these rumours, and no information has emerged.)

“I think many people were dismayed by the reports and the allegations around Mr Davis, and I understand that,” Mr Rattenbury said. “We share that. We are really troubled by the reports that we’ve seen, and we don’t think they match the values of our party and the role we expect a member of the Assembly to play. I think the community will make that judgement in due course.”

Mr Rattenbury said the Greens remained committed to community work despite the controversy.

“What I want to be very clear about is that as the Greens, we are still working really hard on a day-to-day basis for things people elected us to do. We remain deeply committed to that. And if we are successful in having Laura come as a replacement into Brindabella, she’ll be doing that as well.

“Hopefully people will judge us on that performance, and understand that separation between the conduct that we do not support either, but our deep commitment to getting important work done for our community.”

A review of the Greens’ handling of the allegations will begin soon. The parties are discussing the terms of reference.

Mr Rattenbury hopes the review will provide greater clarity on steps to take in similar situations.

“It’s important that we focus on if these matters should arise again in the future, that there is a strong system in place, a clear system for people to report. Now obviously, there are a range of views on how the Greens dealt with this.”

Nevertheless, Mr Rattenbury remains confident that the Greens took the complaint swiftly, acted quickly, and sought advice from external parties.

“They’re the appropriate steps that most people in the community would expect us to take …

“These were clearly highly unusual circumstances we had not really seen in the Assembly before, and hopefully we will never see again. But out of this what I hope to see is greater clarity on what the steps are required to take if something like this arises, be it this or allegations around bullying or harassment and the like. I am sure there are lessons to be learnt.

“Each year in Australia, we see people getting better at these things. Businesses and workplaces deal with these things differently now to even how they did five years ago. We’re all on a learning journey, and I’m sure the review of this will help all of us have greater clarity.”