Christine Milne speaks at the Hobart Walk Against Warming march, November 15, 2008
Christine Milne speaks at the Hobart Walk Against Warming march, November 15, 2008
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has called on Immigration Minister Chris Evans to ensure that a new group of suspected asylum seekers have any claims processed in a timely manner, and are treated humanely in line with the Government’s new immigration policies.
Twelve people who are thought to be asylum seekers were rescued from a sinking boat off northern Western Australia yesterday, and are being taken to Christmas Island.
“These people should be brought to mainland Australia for prompt processing of any claims for asylum,” said Senator Hanson-Young. Read more »
Australian Greens water spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewert has hit out at Government spending on the Murray Darling Basin crisis as being too slow and haphazard, labelling it today as an "uncoordinated trickle".
"The Government's attempts to tackle our water crisis are welcome, but they are going about it the wrong way," said Senator Siewert.
"There is a real problem with the approach of buying up water here and there without any plan about how this will impact on the sustainability of irrigation infrastructure and local communities." Read more »
This post was first published at ABC's Unleashed site:
With the global financial meltdown meeting the climate meltdown head on, the potential to deal with both crises using the same solutions has been gaining support. Read more »
Self-regulation by advertisers of junk food does not work and will not solve Australia's childhood obesity epidemic, according to Australian Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown.
Speaking during a Senate inquiry into a proposed ban on junk food advertising on children's television and in schools, Senator Brown said that the industry proposals for self-regulation were aimed at preventing a legislated ban on junk food ads aimed at children. Read more »
Senator LUDLAM (Western Australia) (1.33pm)-I move Greens amendment (1) on sheet 5636:
(1) [Amendment to Senator Troeth's amendment (1) on sheet 5632]
At the end of paragraph (g) of the definition of terrorism laws, add:
; (h) any other law or part of a law of the Commonwealth under which a power is conferred or a liability is established in connection with, either directly or indirectly, a terrorist act (whether or not a terrorist act has occurred or will occur).
Peter Garrett must keep the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) open next year to ensure continuing appropriate training for Australia's top young classical musicians while any long-term solution is reached, the Australian Greens said today. Read more »
The Australian Greens today joined calls for a long term nationally funded skin cancer prevention campaign, supporting the Cancer Council of Australia's campaign.
"Australia has the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. More than 1,600 Australians die from skin cancer each year, with skin cancers making up 80 per cent of all newly diagnosed cancers. Almost a million visits to GPs each year are for the treatment of preventable non-melanoma skin cancers," said Australian Greens spokesperson on health, Senator Rachel Siewert. Read more »
The Australian Greens today called for immediate action from the Australian Government on whaling, following reports that the Japanese whaling fleet left port yesterday.
"The Government's commitment to funding non-lethal whaling research mustn't stop them preparing for immediate action during the upcoming whaling season," said Senator Rachel Siewert. Read more »
The Australian Greens say infrastructure, broadband and constitutional reform must be on the agenda today, when the first Mayors' Summit kicks off in Canberra.
"Today's summit presents a rare opportunity to develop a shared response to the environmental challenges we face," said the Greens Spokesperson for Local Government, Senator Scott Ludlam. Read more »
Australian Greens Deputy Leader and climate change spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, said:
"The best climate change strategy for rural and regional Australia is in learning how to keep more carbon in the soils - reducing our climate impact and building resilience to the warming that we've already caused. Read more »
Tasmania's first PET scanner, a vital diagnostic tool that can dramatically improve treatment for cancer patients, begins operation today, but still only some cancer patients will be able to access it.
Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, has been fighting for this critical medical service for Tasmania since taking her Senate seat. She will continue to fight for all cancer sufferers to be able to access PET scans in Hobart. Read more »
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young is urging the Federal Government to ensure that the issue of childcare is high on the agenda at this week’s Australian Council of Local Governments, given the uncertainty in the childcare sector following the collapse of ABC Learning.
More than 500 mayors will meet with key ministers in Canberra this week. The Australian Services Union has already written to Education Minister Julia Gillard to ask for support for local government to take over some of the ABC Learning childcare centres. Read more »
Wedge-tail eagles, the swift parrot and other rare bird species are losing their habitats due to logging of Tasmania's forests, while the resulting wood chips that are exported to Japan are used to fire boilers to provide "green" electricity there. Read more »
Senator HANSON-YOUNG (South Australia) (3.53 p.m.)—I move:
That, in the opinion of the Senate, the following is a matter of urgency:
The collapse of ABC Learning and its effect on childcare across Australia, which requires an urgent response from the Government including an emergency summit of the key childcare providers from around the country, to ensure services to parents and children are available beyond the end of 2008. Read more »
Senator Scott Ludlam, the Australian Greens spokesperson on nuclear issues is calling on the government to provide a policy briefing for senior official, Ziggy Switkowski, who keeps forgetting that the Rudd government has ruled out nuclear power in Australia.
Dr Switkowski is Chairman of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and told a meeting of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy in Adelaide last night, that nuclear power should supply 30% of Australia's energy by 2050. Read more »
I rise to take note of the answer of Senator Faulkner, representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, to my question about the Tokyo Two, the two Japanese activists that were arrested earlier this year for their antiwhaling activities. Read more »
The Rudd Government's plans for industrial relations reform are nothing more than Work Choices Lite, the Australian Greens said today.
"In rejecting arbitration Gillard is giving up not just on over 100 years of Australian history but also on the ability of many workers to continue to receive fair wages and conditions," said Australian Greens spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewert. Read more »
The Australian Greens will not commit to supporting the Horse Disease Response Levy until draft regulations have been released clarifying what impact the levy will have on community and recreational owners and riders. Read more »
The Australian Greens today expressed concern about the Government's Commonwealth Water Act, saying there is a need for further work in the detail.
"The Greens are concerned that this legislation will not deliver the reform needed to solve the Murray-Darling water crisis," said Senator Rachel Siewert today.
The Greens have outlined a number of serious shortcomings, including: Read more »
The Australian Greens will move to give cost of living relief to renters today, by amending the government's housing affordability plan.
"Housing affordability is about more than just reducing the cost of a rental. It is also about reducing cost of living expenses, like petrol, electricity and water," said the Greens Housing Spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam.
Senator Ludlam will move amendments to the government's National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) this afternoon. Read more »
Mandatory Home Builders' Warranty Insurance is junk insurance and should be replaced by a national system based on the Queensland model, the Australian Greens said today.
A Senate Inquiry established by Senator Milne into this insurance scheme published its findings today, with the Government and Opposition inexplicably supporting continuation of the existing scheme. Senator Milne tabled a dissenting report recommending significant changes. Read more »
The Australian Greens have welcomed a change of heart from the tax office which will increase access to affordable housing for thousands of Australians, in response to pressure from the community housing sector and the Australian Greens.
"An adverse ruling from the ATO would have meant that community organisations participating in the National Rental Affordability Scheme would have lost their tax exempt status, jeopardising the viability of the whole scheme." Read more »
Walk the walk for renewable energy and a safe climate future for our children. Join thousands of families, workplaces and communities across Australia in this year's Walk Against Warming on 15 November.
This year's walk comes at a critical point, with governments around the world deciding how they will respond to the climate crisis ahead of the Poznan UN Climate Change Conference in December. Read more »
Senator MILNE (Tasmania) (4.24 pm)-I rise today to enthusiastically support the Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws-General Law Reform) Bill 2008. It has been a long time coming and I think it is fantastic that at last this federal parliament has been prepared to end discrimination against people in this community who have been vilified for so very long. Ending discrimination against gays and same-sex couples is just fantastic. Read more »
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young hopes to meet with Education Minister Julia Gillard for a briefing on the Government’s contingency plan for dealing with the ABC Learning crisis, and to offer her support in holding an emergency summit on childcare in Australia.
The Federal Government is yet to reveal details of its contingency plan for ABC Learning beyond contributing $22 million to keep ABC centres open until December 31. Read more »
The Rudd Government needs to significant increase funding for Indigenous health if we are to have chance of to Closing the Gap, said the Australian Greens today.
"The 17 year gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians has long been an international embarrassment, and a new report tells us it will take up to 100 years to rectify with the Government's current level of funding," said Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert. Read more »
Big Coal's latest rearguard action to rescue its reputation, re-branding as "NewGenCoal", will fail as surely as its "clean coal" furphy failed, the Greens said today.
The Australian Coal Association today launched a new branding exercise, acknowledging that the attempt to convince Australians that there is such a thing as ‘clean coal' has failed.
"Coal, by any other name, is on the nose," said Australian Greens Deputy Leader and Climate Change Spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne. Read more »
Greens Leader Bob Brown has introduced a bill into the Senate that will allow a plebiscite to be held at the next election on support for an Australian republic. The Greens first called for a simple 'Yes or No' vote on Australia becoming a republic back in 1998.
The Bill that has been introduced into the Senate allows for a simple vote at the next federal election on whether Australians would like one of their own as head of state. Read more »
Under the JARPA II programme of so-called 'Scientific Whaling', the Japanese Government continues to hunt and kill thousands of whales. The Japanese plan to expand the hunt to include fin whales and humpback whales, the mainstay of Australia's whale-watching industry.
The Greens will continue the fight to end commercial and 'scientific research' whaling once and for all, before our endangered whale species are hunted to extinction. Read more »
Senator LUDLAM (Western Australia) (3.32 pm) - I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (Senator Conroy) to a question without notice asked by Senator Ludlam today relating to Internet filtering. Read more »
Pressure is mounting on the Federal Government to hold an emergency childcare summit, after the Senate today passed a Greens motion calling for one.
Senator Hanson-Young’s motion to hold the summit was supported by the Senate this afternoon.
“It is encouraging that the Senate has recognised the importance of the care of our young children,” said Senator Hanson-Young.
“Today the Senate has recognised that we need to move swiftly, bring together the key players in the sector, and gather the best information to fix this country’s childcare woes. Read more »
The Australian Greens have warned there are too many unanswered questions about the government's internet filtering plan, as the government calls for Internet Service Providers to participate in its trial.
"We still don't know how this filter would sift through the billions of websites on the internet in search of the "unwanted" material referred to in question time today by Minister Conroy," said the Greens Communications Spokesperson, Senator Scott Ludlam. Read more »
This inquiry heard extremely compelling evidence around the impact of problem gambling on individuals and on Australian families and of the significant harm caused by electronic gaming machines-commonly known as EGMs or poker machines. The inquiry also heard evidence of the increase in addiction, particularly of young women, which coincided with the introduction of electronic gaming machines. Read more »
The Greens are calling for a new Capital Grants Fund to be made available to potential new operators of ABC Learning Centres, as a way of solving the childcare crisis.
Under the plan, community groups and not-for-profit providers would be able to access grant funding to ensure childcare centres stay open, and allow the sector to make the transition away from a profit-driven industry towards a community-based, not-for-profit model. Read more »
The Australian Greens today renewed calls for the Rudd Government to follow through on their stated opposition to whaling, with this year's season due to start in a matter of weeks.
"The Japanese whaling fleet is expected to launch within the next month, yet still the Government refuses to take any active steps to prevent this annual slaughter," said Senator Rachel Siewert.
"If the Government does nothing, it could be left up to community organisations, most largely volunteer based, to actively monitor and intercept whaling operations this summer." Read more »
The Australian Greens are calling for the urgent implementation of reforms to tackle the growing social impact of problem gambling and the significant harm caused by poker machines.
"Evidence given to a recent Senate Committee showed that poker machines are an issue for 85% of all problem gamblers in Australia, with up to 50% of revenue coming from 2% of users. The willingness of Governments and industry to help these people has a clear conflict of interest, given the obscene amount of income they generate," said Senator Rachel Siewert. Read more »
Pictures courtesy Caroona Coal Action Group
The Australian Greens today reiterated their position supporting reinstatement of the permit system in the Northern Territory, stating the need to place control back into the hands of the communities.
"Reinstating the permit system will be one step on the right path to enabling Indigenous communities to manage their own lands," said Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert. Read more »
The Greens will tomorrow move in the Senate for the Federal Government to hold an emergency summit on the ABC Learning collapse, as a first step towards reforming childcare in Australia.
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young will move for the summit following the corporate collapse of ABC Learning last Thursday, and the Government’s announcement on Friday of a $22 million prop-up of the company to keep ABC centres open until December 31. Read more »
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has welcomed the Federal Government’s response to the ABC Learning collapse, but says that parents must be told what will happen to their children’s centres in 2009, and steps must be taken to ensure that this situation does not occur again.The Government yesterday announced a $22 million package to keep ABC Learning’s centres open until the end of the year, following the childcare giant’s corporate collapse on Thursday.“There is no guarantee from the Government that all of the thousand-plus ABC Learning Centres in this country will stay open beyo Read more »
The Rudd Government has treated the Tasmanian community with contempt by announcing its ‘approve first, ask questions later' pulp mill policy two days after its Community Cabinet meeting in the Tamar Valley, Australian Greens climate change spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, said today.
Senator Milne said, "Why didn't Prime Minister Rudd and Minister Garrett have the courage to tell the Tasmanian community face to face that it intended to back Gunns regardless of the environmental consequences? Read more »
STANDING COMMITTEE ON RURAL AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS AND TRANSPORT
(Senate-Monday, 20 October 2008)
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY PORTFOLIO - Australian Wool Innovation
Senator MILNE» -I want to ask some questions about innovation and the accusation that Australian Wool Innovation has changed its priorities from R&D to promotion. In terms of dollar figures, is it true that, from spending $60 million in the early 1990s on R&D, we are now down to Australian Wool Innovation giving about $800,000 only to CSIRO and others for R&D of new product? Read more »
Anti-uranium campaigners will voice their opposition to the new WA Government's pro-uranium stance at Parliament House today as the new Parliament sits for the first time.
"The minority Liberal Government is on shaky ground and must not for a moment think that it has a mandate to push ahead with uranium mining in WA," Senator Scott Ludlam, Australian Greens Spokesperson on nuclear issues said. Read more »
Barack Obama's globally popular win in the US Presidential election puts a lid on the divisive and conservative politics of the Bush, Blair and Howard era, most notable for the bloody and avoidable Iraq War, Australian Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown said today.
"The reaction to George Bush's inept and damaging Presidency will be long and profound, with Americans electing a more liberal, humane and inclusive government, following Australia's lead in 2007," Senator Brown said. Read more »
Greens from New Zealand and Australia have joined to welcome the election of Barack Obama as the next President of the United States and are warning climate change deniers that their political allies are dwindling.
Australian Greens leader Senator Bob Brown said in Auckland today "President-elect Barack Obama raises the hopes of the world for a fairer, securer more ecologically sound future. Read more »
The Australian Greens today urged caution on fast tracking uranium mining in Western Australia, following reports that BHP is considering rapid development of WA's largest deposit at Yeelirrie.
"The world uranium spot price has collapsed since July last year, and yet the industry is still behaving as though their imaginary ‘nuclear renaissance' is actually happening," said Australian Greens nuclear spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam. Read more »
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has called on the Federal Government to ensure funding for student services – including independent and democratic advocacy organisations – is included under the initiative announced by Federal Youth Minister Kate Ellis to restore a university levy of up to $250.
“The impact of voluntary student unionism has been devastating for universities across the country, and has undermined the quality of student support services on campuses,” said Greens Senator Hanson-Young. Read more »
The thing I’ve found most fascinating about the responses to the Treasury’s ETS modelling
released yesterday is how, all of a sudden, a pile of big coal’s
biggest fans are agreeing with us that coal with geosequestration isn’t
going to come cheap! Read more »
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says a decision to reject a German family’s application for permanent residency because their son has a disability should be overturned.
Dr Bernhard Moeller, working in Victoria on a temporary 457 visa, was told his 13-year-old son Lukas, who has Down syndrome, presented a burden to the Australian health system and so the family was refused permanent residency.
“This case clearly indicates the need for cultural change within the Immigration Department,” said Senator Hanson-Young. Read more »
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has today, on the 30th anniversary of the annual Reclaim the Night campaign in Australia, called on the Federal Government to sign a key international agreement to protect women’s rights.
Australia is yet to sign the Optional Protocol to the United Nations’ Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (or CEDAW). The Optional Protocol would allow Austral