Rachel Nolan

Rachel Genevieve Nolan (born 1974) is a former Australian politician. She was elected as the state member for Ipswich on 17 February 2001. At the time she was Queensland's youngest ever female MP.^[1] She held the seat until 26 March 2012.

The Hon Rachel Nolan
Rachel Nolan addresses a public meeting in September 2010
Minister for Finance and The Arts of Queensland
In office 21 February 2011 – 26 March 2012
Premier	Anna Bligh
Preceded by	Office created (Finance) Anna Bligh (Arts)
Succeeded by	Tim Nicholls (Finance) Ros Bates (Arts)
Minister for Natural Resources of Queensland
In office 22 June 2011 – 26 March 2012
Premier	Anna Bligh
Preceded by	Kate Jones
Succeeded by	Andrew Cripps
Minister for Transport of Queensland
In office 26 March 2009 – 21 February 2011
Premier	Anna Bligh
Preceded by	Paul Lucas
Succeeded by	Annastacia Palaszczuk
Member of the Queensland Parliament for Ipswich
In office 17 February 2001 – 24 March 2012
Preceded by	David Hamill
Succeeded by	Ian Berry
Personal details
Born	Rachel Genevieve Nolan (1974-03-13) 13 March 1974 (age 51) Ipswich, Queensland, Australia
Political party	Labor
Alma mater	University of Queensland
Occupation	Political advisor

Nolan was educated at the Ipswich Girls' Grammar School, in Ipswich, Queensland. Prior to entering Parliament she worked as a political adviser to the Northern Territory's then Leader of the Opposition and the Queensland Labor Government.

In October 2006 Nolan was recognised as the University of Queensland's Young Alumnus of the Year.^[2]

Anna Bligh appointed Nolan Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communities, Disability Services, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Partnerships, Multicultural Affairs, Seniors and Youth (Lindy Nelson-Carr) in her first Ministry. Following the March 2009 state election, she was promoted to Minister for Transport. Then, in the February 2011 reshuffle, she was given the new post of Minister of Finance and received Bligh's Arts portfolio as well. When Kate Jones resigned from Cabinet to concentrate on defending her seat of Ashgrove against LNP leader Campbell Newman, Nolan was assigned the additional brief of National Resources.

Nolan was defeated in the 2012 Queensland Government election by liberal candidate for Ipswich, Ian Berry.