The Australian Greens

Peace and Non Violence, Grassroots Democracy,
Social and Economic Justice, Ecological Sustainability

Vote 1 The Greens in SA and Tasmania March 20th

Saturday March the 20th sees two state elections, in South Australian and Tasmania.

In Tasmania, Nick McKim and The Tasmanian Greens team have pledged to fight for lower power bills, lower water and sewerage bills, better outcomes in health and education, and to look after Tasmania’s high conservation value forests. Find out more about the Tasmanian Greens campaign.

In South Australia lead legislative council candidate Tammy Jennings says The Greens offer smart solutions to the issues that affect future generations like climate change, water security, health and education. Find out more about the South Australian Greens Campaign

International Education Needs Reform Now

The Australian Greens have called on the Federal Government to fast-track its response to the Baird Review of International Education, according to Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.

Senator Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson on Education, says the man in charge of the review, Bruce Baird, has confirmed that there is a serious problem in the international education sector.

"It has been obvious for more than a year that the international education sector is in a dire state,'' Senator Hanson-Young said.

"Education provider collapses and attacks on international students have combined to inflict damage on the sector and Australia's reputation overseas - a point acknowledged by Mr Baird today.

"I am happy to see Mr Baird's recommendation to expand the role of the Ombudsman to help resolve students' problems, a move the Greens have been calling on for some time.

Rudd, not Hatoyama, issues warrant against whale heroes

The Australian Federal Police search warrant used to raid the Sea Shepherd's Steve Irwin when it docked in Hobart this morning alleges breaches of Australian law, not Japanese law, Greens Leader Bob Brown told the welcoming crowd that had gathered to greet the ship.

"The spineless Rudd government has laid charges, including throwing of rancid butter, but the Shonan Maru 2's ‘sinking' of the whale-protection boat Ady Gil, threatening the lives of six crew members, is not mentioned," Senator Brown said.

"Tokyo has taken over Australia's Antarctic seas and whales and now it controls events in Hobart."

Minister Wong must clarify: Is it already too late to get a Green Loan?

The Greens are today calling on the new Minister responsible for Green Loans, Minister Wong, to immediately clarify whether or not it is already too late for Australian householders to get a Green Loan.

With a huge number of householders still awaiting the paperwork needed to secure a loan, lending institutions across the country have already stopped processing loans, well ahead of the public March 22 deadline for loans to end.

"I've received a flood of calls and emails from both householders and assessors deeply troubled and frustrated by the confusion surrounding the remnants of the Green Loans debacle," Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

Confirmed: Indonesian fish stocks contaminated by Montara oil

Concerns repeatedly raised by the Australian Greens that Indonesian fishing grounds were contaminated by oil from last year’s Montara oil spill have been confirmed, following testing of an oil sample submitted to the Montara oil spill inquiry by Australian Greens Senator for WA Rachel Siewert.

“We first raised concerns in October that communities in Indonesia who rely on fish for food were being affected by this oil spill,” Senator Rachel Siewert said today.

“The response by the Rudd Government at the time was to play the reports down.