Corbell was first elected to the
Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly in 1997 as a member for the electorate of
Molonglo in a countback following the resignation of former Chief Minister
Rosemary Follett. As attorney-general, he was involved in the establishment of the
Human Rights Act 2004 (ACT) and the Human Rights Commission, and legislating for
gay marriage in the ACT after legislation called the
Civil Union Act 2006 (of the Australian Capital Territory) was overturned by federal intervention. In 2013, he introduced the bill for the
Marriage Equality (Same Sex) Act 2013 (ACT), which the Legislative Assembly passed by a single vote but which was soon overturned in the
High Court. On 14 August 2015, Simon Corbell announced his decision to retire from politics at the
2016 Australian Capital Territory election.
List of ministerial positions held in ACT government • Deputy Chief Minister (December 2014 - 31 October 2016) • Attorney-General (20 April 2006 - 31 October 2016) • Minister for Health (20 January 2015 - 31 October 2016), (23 December 2002 - 20 April 2006) • Minister for the Environment and Climate Change (May 2011 -31 October 2016) • Minister for Capital Metro (December 2014 - 30 June 2016) • Minister for Police and Emergency Services (December 2015 - 31 October 2016) • Minister for Education, Youth and Family Services (13 November 2001 - 23 December 2002) • Minister for Energy (10 November 2008 - 16 May 2011) • Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Water (10 November 2008 – 16 May 2011) • Minister for Industrial Relations (13 November 2001 - 23 December 2002) • Minister for Planning (13 November 2001 - 17 April 2007) • Minister for Police and Emergency Services (20 April 2006 - December 2014) • Minister for Sustainable Development (16 May 2011 - December 2014) • Minister for Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations (9 November 2012 - July 2014) ==Later career==