New Vocational Training Bill tries to right wrongs
Opening up the vocational education sector to private providers has increased costs for students and undermined the quality of the public vocational education sector, which the government is now trying to fix with new regulatory structures being debated in the Senate today, says Greens MP and higher education spokesperson Lee Rhiannon.
Govt must ensure HECS for vocational training not undermined by fee hikes
The Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills Chris Evans must learn from the Victorian experience and actively monitor and rein in private vocational course providers that take advantage of new HECS-style loan arrangements to hike up fees, said Greens Senator and higher education spokesperson Lee Rhiannon.
Government must get to work on equality laws
The Government needs to listen closely to concerns raised by Australian human rights organisations when it comes to strengthening equality laws, the Australian Greens said.
Equal pay win, pressure now on states to step up
Greens Senator and spokesperson for women Lee Rhiannon today congratulated all those who have campaigned so hard over decades to achieve Fair Work Australia's decision today on equal pay for community workers.
New donations data highlights why major parties block funding reform
New data released today by the Australian Electoral Commission for 2010/2011, showing that $24.7 million dollars in donations has flowed to the federal divisions of Labor and Coalition parties, helps explain the reluctance of the Gillard government and Coalition to show leadership on federal funding reform, says Greens Senator and Australian Greens democracy spokesperson Lee Rhiannon (download the summary here).
Failed intelligence review
Australian Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon has backed the Australia Day call by Civil Liberties Australia for a new inquiry into the impact ten years of counter-terrorism measures have had on lives and liberties of Australians. This follows the release yesterday of the Independent Review of the Intelligence Community.
Ludwig must not buckle to industry bullying on Middle East sheep exports
Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig must not budge from the February deadline for accrediting live sheep exports to the Middle East following reports today that sheep traders are pushing for an extension, said Greens Senator and animal welfare spokesperson Lee Rhiannon (Australian Financial Review, 23/1/11, p3).
Cash strapped local councils deserve constitutional recognition
Following today's Daily Telegraph report about local council rate pressures Senator Lee Rhiannon has renewed the Australian Greens' call for a federal referendum on constitutional recognition of local government to help provide funding security for councils ("Cashed up councils to sting families", p 1 Daily Telegraph).
Rhiannon speaks @ refugee rally Bowen’s office
What: Greens Senator for NSW Lee Rhiannon speaks alongside recently arrived refugees Hadi Hosseini and Iraj Moghadam, Ian Rintoul (Refugee Action Coalition) and Jenny Haines (Labor for Refugees)
When: 1-2.30pm, Tuesday 10 January 2011
Where: Outside Chris Bowen’s office, 398 Hamilton Road, Fairfield West