Just five months ago, they were the high-profile casualties of the ACT Greens' darkest day.
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But former MLAs Meredith Hunter, Amanda Bresnan and Caroline Le Couteur were all smiles on Tuesday as they returned to the Legislative Assembly and talked about life after politics.
The three women lost their seats in last year's election as the Greens were reduced from four MLAs to just one, Shane Rattenbury, who accepted a ministry in Katy Gallagher's government in return for supporting the ALP in power.
Ms Hunter, the party's parliamentary convener in the previous term, works at the University of Canberra as director of development and engagement in the faculty of education, a very different working environment than the rough and tumble of Assembly politics. ''I'm really liking it,'' she said. ''It's great to be in a workplace where you don't get yelled at and abused.''
The former leader said she still took an interest in the goings on of Civic Square but was not always pleased with what she saw.
''I have to say that sitting week fiasco over the church service and the Speaker, making sure everyone knew to acknowledge her, when you see that sort of thing, you just cringe,'' Ms Hunter said. ''But I'm sure they're all working hard and [new Liberals leader] Jeremy [Hanson] looks happy.
''[Former leader] Zed [Seselja] doesn't look so happy at the moment, though.''
Ms Le Couteur hasn't lost her hunger for politics and is gearing up for a big federal election year as the Greens aim to challenge for an ACT Senate spot with high profile candidate Simon Sheikh.
''I'm doing a lot with the Greens,'' Ms Le Couteur said.
''I will be active in the federal campaign. I'm the secretary of the Greens at present.
''You've got to go to meetings and you've got to pay attention because you've got to take minutes.''
Ms Bresnan has returned to the mental health sector, taking a role with Queensland consultancy ConNetica.
''I work at home now. It's lovely. I have the dog and the cat,'' she said.
And missing politics?
''Sometimes, sometimes not,'' she said. ''I'll say that there are plenty things that I don't miss.''