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 Australia 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.

Greens to introduce legislation for National Anti-Corruption Commission

The Greens will introduce national independent anti-corruption commission legislation in the Senate next week, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said in Adelaide today.

Senator Brown called on South Australian Premier Mike Rann to back the national legislation and establish a South Australian independent commission for anti-corruption (ICAC).

"Australia needs an independent national anti-corruption commission, to operate alongside state schemes," said Senator Brown.

Our Students Need an Education Ombudsman

The Australian Greens have moved to lock in protection for all students with legislation to provide a new national authority to handle education complaints, according to Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.

Senator Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson on Education, has today introduced the Ombudsman Amendment (Education Ombudsman) Bill 2010 into Parliament, which would establish a new office of the Education Ombudsman under the Commonwealth Ombudsman.

"We need a one-stop national authority that can resolve student complaints, whether it's in domestic education or the international education sector, '' Senator Hanson-Young said.

Senate supports Greens call for new OHS laws to set high standards

The Senate has backed an Australian Greens motion calling on the Government to ensure there is no reduction in occupational health and safety standards anywhere in the nation in implementing their new laws.

"Workers, unions and the community are concerned that the Government's OHS harmonisation agenda will mean lower safety standards rather than the highest possible we should be pursuing", said Senator Siewert.

"The Government must guarantee no reduction in standards in any workplace. With over 150 work-related fatalities last year, an increase of around 14%, this is no time to lower the bar."

ABC journalists should ignore Chair Newman's anti-science nonsense

The Australian Greens today urged ABC journalists to ignore the anti-science nonsense peddled by the Chair of their board and instead increase their strong coverage of climate change.

ABC Board Chair, Maurice Newman, today told senior ABC staff that climate change was an "emotional issue" and that journalists were too "intolerant" of climate sceptics.

"I trust that ABC journalists will not be cowed by the anti-science speech delivered by the Chair of their board," Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

"Maurice Newman has no expertise in climate science and his interference in the independence of his journalists is unwelcome.