Departing MLA Deb Foskey unveiled a field of just three candidates yesterday for this October's poll.

Former Greenpeace campaigner Shane Rattenbury will stand in Dr Foskey's seat of Molonglo, considered the safest bet for the Greens.

Dr Foskey announced last week she was standing down from politics to concentrate on writing and environmental activism. ACT Youth Coalition director Meredith Hunter will stand in Ginninderra, and mental health worker Amanda Bresnan will campaign for a seat in Brindabella.

All three candidates have run previously in local or federal elections.

Mr Rattenbury stood unsuccessfully for election in 1998 and 2001 before joining Greenpeace, where he became international political director.

He said minority government would bring with it a chance to get more ideas on the table.

''Minority government in the ACT is not a bad thing: to the contrary, we've just seen four years of majority government which has resulted in decreasing levels of community consultation and many things just railroaded through,'' he said.

None of the three candidates has been anointed party leader. ''We'll see who gets elected and we'll deal with that question later,'' Mr Rattenbury said.

Ms Bresnan, who works with the Mental Health Council of Australia, ran in last year's federal election.

She said the Greens were no strangers to holding the balance of power and would work with all parties in the Assembly.

''We've done so [held the balance of power] responsibly and we've looked at the issues and the merits of the issues,'' she said.

''We would never block anything that would be a step forward in the right direction.''

She said the Greens provided a viable alternative to both Labor and the Liberals.The Greens have expressed the hope that voter disillusionment with the two big parties will help them gain a seat or two in the other electorates.

Ms Hunter said the Greens would concentrate on sustainable living and issues such as public transport, education and community health services.

She cited youth services as one of her main concerns.

''There are areas of Canberra where young people are missing out,'' she said.

''We need far more facilities and amenities for young people.''

Canberrans were also angry that the Stanhope Government had ignored their views on issues such as the North Weston development and the controversial Macarthur power station and data centre.