The first Greens MP in the world to serve as a speaker of parliament and the country's first attorney-general to represent the party has announced his retirement from politics.
ACT Greens leader Shane Rattenbury on Monday announced his resignation from territory politics after serving in Canberra's Legislative Assembly for 17 years.
Mr Rattenbury, who was first elected in 2008, quickly made headlines after being appointed the parliament's speaker, being the first Greens representative anywhere in the world to do so.
He became a cabinet member in the next term of parliament, with the Greens being in a minority government with Labor.
During his time in parliament, he served as attorney-general, climate and energy minister as well as being responsible for the mental health portfolio.
He was the first member of the Greens in Australia to be a minister for those portfolios.
"It has been a privilege to represent this community that cares so deeply for each other, for our environment, and for our future," Mr Rattenbury said.
"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."
Mr Rattenbury said among his proudest achievements while in office was introducing laws to make the ACT the first jurisdiction to raise the minimum age of responsibility to 14, as well as being the first in the country to allow the testing of pills at music festivals.
Former federal Greens leader Bob Brown said Mr Rattenbury was a "Green gold".
"Shane has given the ACT and Greens politics two decades of exemplary political representation," Mr Brown said.
ACT Opposition Leader Mark Parton also praised the outgoing Greens leader.
"While we have not always agreed, we recognise his commitment to the issues he has championed and his contribution to public debate," he said.
