Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has urgently called on the Australian Government to condemn the violent and disproportionate action by Israeli forces, in the wake of the bombing of a United Nations School on the Gaza strip.

It is estimated that more than 15,000 Palestinians have fled from their homes in fear, seeking refuge in the UN's 23 Gaza schools.

“It is utterly abhorrent that a United Nations sponsored school was bombed, despite the UN providing the Israeli military with the GPS coordinates for all its facilities,” said Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young. Read more »

Senator Ludlam: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts (transferred to the Minister representing the Minister for Defence on 19 December 2008)-

(1) What environmental impact studies have been conducted in relation to the planned Exercise Talisman Sabre 2009, which will involve the movement of tens of thousands of troops, with associated tanks and other military hardware, on the fragile ecosystems of the Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area in Central Queensland. Read more »

The Australian Greens have called on the Government to add Australia's weight to end Israel's gross & disproportionate violence & bombing of Palestinians in the Gaza strip.

"We call on the acting Prime Minister to speak out against the violent & disproportionate action by Israeli leaders which has lead to the death of 400 Palestinians including many women, children & innocent men," said Bob Brown. Read more »

The Greens say former prime minister John Howard is hardly deserving of a Medal of Freedom from US President George W Bush, given his record on human rights.

Howard has been named as a recipient of the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom, along with former British prime minister Tony Blair and Colombian president Alvaro Uribe. Read more »

Greens Senator Rachel Siewert, Greens MLCs Sue Pennicuik, Colleen Hartland and Greg Barber and some of Victoria's newly-elected Greens Councillors protest over the federal government's weak 5% greenhouse target. The Greens are committed to taking the climate crisis seriously at Federal, State and Local levels of government.

Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON NOTICE
Supplementary Budget Estimates October 2008
Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government

Senator LUDLAM - I am just trying to get a sense, I suppose, of the budget allocations in your agency that is for road funding as opposed to rail funding, regional or metro. Read more »

Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON NOTICE
Supplementary Budget Estimates October 2008
Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government

Senator Ludlam asked: Can you outline the role, functions and expected outputs of the Major Cities Unit?

Answer: The Major Cities unit will lead a whole of government response by the Commonwealth to contribute to outcomes that improve the liveability, productivity and sustainable development of the major cities in Australia.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown has called on acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard to add Australia's weight to calls on Israel to end the gross and disproportionate violence and bombing of Palestinians in the Gaza strip.

"We call on the acting Prime Minister to speak out against the violent and disproportionate action by Israeli leaders which has lead to the death of 400 Palestinians including many women, children and innocent men," Greens Leader Bob Brown said today. Read more »

The Australian Greens today called on the Minister for the Environment Peter Garrett to explain why Japanese whalers were in Australian Antarctic waters and whether any whales were taken in Australian waters.

"Japanese whalers were found in Australian waters by the Sea Shepherd group, and were unable to kill any whales while they were being pursued ... but how many whales were taken before they were found?" asked Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on whaling. Read more »

Pope Benedict's pre-Christmas tirade against homosexuals would have been better directed against enforced celibacy, Australian Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown said today.

"Homosexuality is a necessary niche of nature's grand diversity, and the Pope should honour it rather than imply disdain for the Creator."

"However, enforced celibacy was cooked up against the order of nature, causes much unnecessary heartache, and is something the Pope can fix," said Senator Brown. Read more »

The Australian Greens today called for an unreserved apology to Dr Mohamed Haneef from the Australian Government, former Prime Minister Howard and the Ministers who were involved in the bungled international episode.

"The report of the inquiry due to be handed down today is expected to show what was obvious from the start - an innocent man was wrongly detained and deported, and his treatment by the Australian Government throughout the whole affair was a failure of our legal, ethical and moral standards," said Senator Scott Ludlam. Read more »

Australian Greens Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam has urged the Chamber of Minerals and Energy to wake up to the imminent effects of climate change, and stop jeopardising the economic viability of their industry, as well as our future, at a Public Hearing Joint Standing Committee on Treaties into the Kyoto Protocol this morning. Read more »

Infrastructure Australia's short-list released today includes proposals which would help build a sustainable Australia and others which would lock the country into a high-polluting path for decades, the Australian Greens said today.

The proposals across transport, ports and energy are on balance positive, with more than half (based on indicative capital cost) likely to have a net positive environmental impact and less than half a questionable or net negative impact. Read more »

Christine talks to Paul Deady from NZ radio 95b

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown today welcomed the release of the federal government's Electoral Reform Green Paper.

"The Greens will consider the options discussed in the Electoral Reform Green Paper over summer," Senator Brown said.

"The Green Paper process should include introducing proportional representation to the lower house, which is the best way to strengthen democracy and ensure that every vote counts and guaranteeing one person, one vote, one value. Read more »

A Federal Court ruling that will halt one of the world's largest zinc mines is a big win for Traditional Owners and for the environment, said the Australian Greens today.

"The McArthur River Mine should never have received Commonwealth approval - it is the direct opposite of the kinds of sustainable economic development that Northern Australia is crying out for," said Senator Rachel Siewert. Read more »

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has welcomed the Bradley Review’s call for greater income support for struggling tertiary students.

Among its 46 proposed changes, the Bradley Review of Higher Education recommends lowering the age of independence to 22 and allowing students to earn $400 a fortnight before payments are affected (up from $236 per fortnight at present).

“At a time when students are having to pay more than ever for their qualifications, they need to be better supported,” said Senator Hanson-Young. Read more »

This post was published originally this morning at ABC Online

One of the most important numbers in Australia's history was revealed yesterday - a number that carries with it the hopes and fears of millions of people and embodies our priorities as a nation, our balancing of the relative worth of human beings. Read more »

On Monday, Dec 15, the Government announced their 5% emission target, which is a global embarrassment and a recipe for global catastrophe.
Kevin Rudd has put the coal industry ahead of Australia's children and grandchildren. It will be much more expensive to rectify this historic mistake in the decades ahead.
You can act now to ensure Australia doesn't put up the white flag on Climate Change! Read more »

No Surrender on Climate Change rally, following Kevin Rudd's announced 5% emission targets - Hobart

No Surrender on Climate Change rally, following Kevin Rudd's announced 5% emission targets - Melbourne

Tuesday, 16 December 2008

The Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has ignored the 20% or so of Australia's greenhouse emissions coming from logging and clearance of forests and woodlands as a huge low-cost opportunity to address climate change, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

"Logging, from the Tiwi Islands to Tasmania, is not needed for domestic wood needs as Australia has more than 1.5 million hectares of to-be-logged plantations for its paper and structural timber market," Senator Brown said. Read more »

It's hard to find the words to express quite how atrocious today's decision announcement has been.

Here's a video that expresses what a lot of us are starting to think - that all those who voted for Kevin Rudd thinking he'd be better than John Howard on climate change were sold a lump of coal.

If you're angry, come along tomorrow and join us at the rallies listed here.

Read more »

Australian Greens Deputy Leader and climate change spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, said Prime Minister Rudd's dangerous 5% emissions reduction target had sparked disbelief and outrage from the community.

"My office has been inundated with phone calls and emails from Australians who are disappointed and angry at Prime Minister Rudd's 5% target and want to know what they can do to fix it," Senator Milne said. Read more »

Greens Senator Christine Milne predicts there will be a growing international effort to save the Tasmanian Devil from the Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), following her successful bid to get one of the world's wealthiest men to fund new research.
American billionaire Ted Turner has donated a US$50,000 research grant from the Turner Endangered Species Fund after a personal approach from Senator Milne, during a meeting of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) in Barcelona in October 2008. Read more »

Greens campaign for 40% target

The Australian Greens will campaign for a 40 per cent cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 to save the planet from catastrophic climate change.

"Prime Minister Rudd's 5% target is a global embarrassment and a recipe for global catastrophe," Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

"The Rudd target of 5 per cent will anger voters. It is exactly where John Howard would have placed Australia in 2009 - a spoiler as the Copenhagen conference on climate change reaches for a much higher goal. Read more »

The Australian Greens Transport Spokesperson, Senator Scott Ludlam says the Prime Minister's announcement of $580 million dollars to fast track coal transport is a "horrific use of tax payer funds" and an opportunity to embrace a ‘Green New Deal' has been missed. Read more »

Senator Ludlam asked: Read more »

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says ten days is not long enough for public consultation on the prospect of flooding South Australia’s Lower Lakes with salt water.

Environment Minister Peter Garrett provided a ten-day period for public consultation which concludes today, and is set to decide whether or not he will approve salt water flooding by December 31 this year.

“Ten days for public consultation on such critical environmental, social and economic impacts is a joke, said Senator Hanson-Young. Read more »

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says that yesterday’s statement from Education Minister Julia Gillard has raised considerably more questions about the future of hundreds of ABC Learning centres.

Yesterday it was announced that 55 ABC Learning centres would close from December 31 this year, with another 241 to be propped up until March 31 2009 by with $34 million of Government money, despite them being considered unviable under the current business model. Read more »

Senate Standing Committee on the Environment, Communications and the Arts
ANSWERS TO ESTIMATES QUESTIONS ON NOTICE
Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy portfolio
Agency/Department Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Telecommunications, Network regulation and Australia Post
Supplementary Estimates Hearings October 2008

Topic: section 593 funding
Senator Ludlum asked: Read more »

The Australian Greens today deplored the Australian Government's approach to Indigenous rights during climate change negotiations this week.

"Mr Rudd should be explaining to the Australian people how on one hand he has made an election promise to endorse the UN Declaration of Indigenous Rights, whilst on the other hand acting to cut out any practical application of those rights in the negotiations currently underway at the UN Climate Conference in Poznan," said Senator Rachel Siewert. Read more »

A New Zealand whale is beached, and rather confused.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has welcomed the Federal Government’s introduction of a National Human Rights Consultation, but says that a bill of rights should be among the options considered.

Attorney-General Robert McClelland today, on the 60th anniversary of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, announced that the consultation process would now commence, and be overseen by four independent committee members.

“The Greens welcome the National Human Rights Consultation, as a long overdue step for Australia to take,” she said. Read more »

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says Australia, as a signatory to the United Nation’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, still has work to do to fulfil its obligations.

Today, International Human Rights Day, is also the 60th anniversary of the Declaration.

“While we celebrate 60 years of such an important document, we should note that there is still significant work to be done in this area,” said Senator Hanson-Young. Read more »

The Australian Greens today responded to the release of a Native Title Working Group report, pointing to the need for an overhaul of the system.

"Australia's approach to native title is heavily swayed away from Indigenous Australians, denying them the right to be properly informed, involved or otherwise represented," said Senator Rachel Siewert. Read more »

The Australian Greens will move amendments in the Senate to allow AWAs or ITEAs that do not meet the new "better off overall test" to be terminated.

"The Greens will put forward a simple and sensible amendment that will allow a worker on an existing AWA to ask Fair Work Australia to test it against the "better off overall test", and to be allowed to terminate an agreement that is proven to be unfair," said Senator Rachel Siewert today. Read more »

Tuesday, 9 December 2008

Gunns Ltd has been required to pay $91,186 in costs for its dropped charges against Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown, former Tasmanian Greens Leader Peg Putt and author and environmentalist Helen Gee.

The three were defendants in the Gunns 20 case where in 2004, the day before it submitted plans for its pulp mill, Gunns sued 20 environmental organisations and individuals for some $6 million.

"This case will end up costing Gunns a lot more and already its legal bills are between half and one million dollars," Senator Brown said. Read more »

After a whirlwind 6 week campaign, it has been announced that the National Academy of Music will remain open for 2009, running its full planned program, with Brett Dean as Artistic Director.

The Rudd Government is trying to pretend that it has not done a backflip on this, but the effect is that, instead of being scrapped as originally planned by Arts Minister Peter Garrett, the Academy will continue to operate for at least another 12 months, and its future looks bright beyond that. Read more »

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has slammed claims that changes to Australia’s immigration policy has caused a surge in suspected asylum seekers reaching Australia in boats.

A boat carrying 44 suspected asylum seekers was intercepted off Broome yesterday, bringing this year’s total of detained asylum seekers to 127. Last year 150 asylum seekers arrived by boat.

“These are the same old scaremongering lines being trotted out by hangers-on from the Howard and Ruddock regime,” said Senator Hanson-Young. Read more »

Senator MILNE (Tasmania) (3:13 PM) -I rise today to take note of the answer from Senator Wong pertaining to the decision by the Rudd government to close the Australian National Academy of Music. I want to say at the start that this is a shameful decision. It is an unjustified decision. Ever since the minister made it, he has been hiding in his office and failing to justify to anybody why he made the decision. Read more »

Friday, 5 December 2008

Promise of world leadership evaporates in office

Prime Minister Rudd's decision to opt for a weak greenhouse gas reduction target of five to 15 per cent by 2020 reneges on his election promises to tackle climate change with ‘real action' because ‘climate change is just too serious'.

In 2007 Mr Rudd warned ‘the consequences of failing to act, or getting it wrong, are just too great...Labor will lead by example [and] restore Australia's international leadership on climate change' - May 30, 2007. Read more »

The Australian Greens today warned that the Rudd Government's Howard-era negotiating tactics at the Poznan climate conference risk scuttling any effective global climate change treaty.

The Australian delegation in Poznan is continuing to chair meetings of the "Umbrella Group", the negotiating bloc including the USA, Canada, Japan and Saudi Arabia, which is the main grouping holding back progress towards an effective agreement. Read more »

The Australian Greens believe that the best educational and social outcomes for Australian families and their children will be achieved if the children are enrolled in and regularly attending school and actively participating in an education that is relevant to their lives, their culture and their aspirations. However, we do not believe that this is what the Social Security and Veterans' Entitlements Legislation Amendment (Schooling Requirements) Bill 2008 is all about. This bill is not a genuine attempt to deliver educational engagement. Read more »

Hansard Page ECITA: 135 (21 Oct)

Senator Ludlam asked:
Senator LUDLAM-Has the company provided any advice to your office on the level of environmental assessment that their expansion plans might reasonably require under the EPBC Act?

Mr Hughes-I believe they have given an undertaking that they will be making a referral.

Senator LUDLAM-They will be making a referral under EPBC?

Mr Hughes-I understand that.

Senator LUDLAM-As far as you are aware. Minister, could I ask you to take a similar question on  notice on behalf of the minister. Read more »

Senator Ludlam asked:
1) Regarding the proposals for the lifting/heightening of the tailings dam that were discussed in previous Estimates hearings, what assessment was undertaken regarding the heightening of the tailings dams at Ranger?  What did the assessment identify as potential risks and impacts?  What steps have been taken to address these?

2) What is the extent of social impact monitoring that OSS is currently undertaking in the Alligator Rivers region? Read more »

SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE
Question No. 82

Senator Ludlam asked the following question at the hearing on 20 October 2008:

I refer to media reports of State police agencies undertaking covert surveillance and infiltration of peace, environment, climate change and animal rights groups.

a) To what degree does the AFP undertake surveillance of such groups?

b) Can you provide an estimate of the total budget expenditure on such activities? Read more »

SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT
Output 1.2
Question No. 58

Senator Ludlam asked the following question at the hearing on 20 October 2008:

Amendments have recently been made to the grounds for refusing classification, on the basis that material 'advocates' terrorism (as per the definition in Division 102 of the Criminal Code):

a) how many publications have been refused classification on this ground Read more »

SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT
Output 1.7
Question No. 61

Senator Ludlam asked the following question at the hearing on 20 October 2008:

In the course of the introduction and amendment of more than 40 pieces of legislation relating to terrorism and terror-related offences, the AFP, State Police, ASIO and other related agencies received additional funds to enforce the legislation and prosecute various cases. Read more »

SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT
Output 1.7
Question No. 63

Senator Ludlam asked the following question at the hearing on 20 October 2008:

In relation to community legal centres:

a) regarding the makeup of State and Federal funding for community legal centres, has there been a declining Federal contribution as compared to the States, at the same time there has been an increased demand on these services Read more »

SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT
Output 2.5
Question No. 71

Senator Ludlam asked the following question at the hearing on 23 October 2008:

In relation to counter-terrorism training exercises:

a) the Department undertakes counter-terrorism exercises such as the recent Mercury 08. How many more exercises are expected to take place, and

b) how much do these exercises cost the Department?

The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows: Read more »

Greens spokesperson for sustainable cities Senator Scott Ludlam, is calling on the Barnett Government to keep a $30 million sustainable energy fund as part of a commitment to secure energy source diversity in Western Australia, in light of the findings of the Senate Inquiry into the Varanus Island gas explosion which exposed the state’s energy vulnerability. Read more »

World-class public transport must become a key component of nation building in the age of climate change and peak oil, and today the Australian Greens successfully initiated a Senate Inquiry to begin the process.

"This is has never been undertaken in Australia before," said Greens public transport spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam.

"Building a Green Australia, responding to climate change, and shock-proofing our community against the impacts of peak oil all rely on properly investing in the nation's public transport infrastructure. Read more »

SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT
Output 2.2
Question No. 67

Senator Ludlam asked the following question at the hearing on 20 October 2008:
In relation to the Burmese regime:

a) has the Department provided counter-terrorism support or other kinds of support to the Burmese regime in the past? What is the nature of this support, and can you provide a breakdown of the costs of this support to the Department Read more »

QUESTION TO ASIO

SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
AUSTRALIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE ORGANISATION

Question No. 100

Senator Ludlam asked the following question at the hearing on 20 October 2008:

In addition to the use of its formal powers of questioning under the Act in order to gain
intelligence relating to terrorist offences, ASIO undertakes many informal interviews.

a) How are these budgeted for and on what basis are priorities set in this area? Read more »

SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT
Output 2.3
Question No. 66

Senator Ludlam asked the following question at the hearing on 20 October 2008:

In September 2007 the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security recommended that "the Attorney-General's Department develop a communication strategy that is responsive to the specific information needs of ethnic and religious communities":

a) has the Department begun implementing this recommendation Read more »

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says the Federal Government has let down parents who are looking for answers on the future of their ABC Learning childcare centre.

Today in Question Time Senator Hanson-Young asked Senator Kim Carr, the Minister representing Education Minister Julia Gillard, when the Government would reveal its contingency plans for those ABC Learning centres with a doubtful outlook in 2009. Read more »