Schacht's political career started as a state party official in 1969 during the Don Dunstan era.

[5] Schacht has supported uranium mining and the prospect of nuclear waste storage in South Australia.

A series of environmental breaches resulted in the revocation of the company's exploration license and the establishment of the Arkaroola Protection Zone.

[9] Schacht is also the chairman of the Australia China Development Company[10] and an ambassador for the National Secular Lobby.

In October 2006, he was elected to the Legal Commission of the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball for a four-year term.