As Prime Minister Rudd heads to Washington today, the Australian Greens have announced they will not support Senator Fielding's move to set up a select committee into whether President Bush knew what the G20 group of nations was.

If the Senate is to pick a constitutional showdown with the executive and the House of Representatives, this is not the right issue, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

"The only barbeque stopper in town is what Australia and the US will do about climate change."

"While Prime Minister Rudd needs to ensure a tighter ship after late evening conversations with foreign leaders, a Senate summons to Mr Rudd, his staff, attending security guards and reporters will either fail, or end up with a massive stoush between the houses of parliament."

"We do not think either President Bush's intelligence on G20 or a joke at the existing President's expense warrant these prospects. Senator Fielding has shown poor judgement and might have consulted other more experienced Senators first.

"I think many Australians would prefer the Senate's overloaded Committee system to be working for higher national goals," Senator Brown said.

"As Prime Minister Rudd travels to Washington today he should be reading the latest very alarming evidence of climate change and planning to get international action."

"The Prime Minister should be getting behind the Greens and European leaders' plans for a Green New Deal to deliver a jobs-rich environmental boost that will help us out of the global financial crisis."

Further information: Russell Kelly 0438 376 082.