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.

[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.

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.