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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.
Greens private health insurance proposal to break deadlock, deliver $145m for mental health
The Greens will propose a compromise on private health insurance today that offers a way to break the senate deadlock and deliver over a billion dollars to public hospitals and $145 million for specific mental health funding.
The compromise proposal would:
- Support the passage of the bill which means-tests private health insurance rebate to deliver an estimated $1.8 billion to public hospitals over four years
- Support the passage of the Medicare Levy Surcharge with an amendment to direct all revenue raised through the increased surcharge (approximately $145 million over four years) into early intervention mental health services.
Can drug users deliver an honest debate?
When Premier Morris Iemma was asked about Andrew Johns drug taking he went for the old law and order approach, reminding everyone that if Johns had been caught in NSW he may have faced criminal charges. Although technically that could happen, the fact is that by far the majority of people picked up in NSW with one ecstasy tab are given a warning by the police, or they may end up in a rehabilitation program.
When threats replace debate on the question of stem cells
Cardinal George Pell was not the only leading Australian Catholic who threatened "consequences" for Catholic MPs who voted for stem cell legislation. Perth Archbishop Barry Hickey went further than Cardinal Pell. He not only asserted that Catholic politicians supporting stem cell research should be excluded from holy communion - he added the threat of excommunication.
RAAF risks cover up charge if secret environment document not released
Greens MP and Hunter spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has called for the public release of key government documents on the health implications of RAAF operations over the Salt Ash Air Weapons Range near Port Stephens.
Bellingen hospital needs a lifeline not cuts
NSW Greens MP and health spokesperson Lee Rhiannon, soon to visit the Bellingen Shire, is calling on the State and Federal governments to boost funding and resources to the Bellingen Hospital and better involve the community in decisions affecting the hospital’s future.
Dental Prosthesis Imports
Lee Rhiannon gave a speech in the NSW Parliament on the potential for toxic heavy metals, such as nickel, cadmium and lead, being used in the manufacture of imported dental prosthesis. While dental prosthetics manufactured in New South Wales are currently regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, imported prosthesis are not subject to the same standards.
Genuine collaboration the way forward in Indigenous health - Greens
The Australian Greens continue to be alarmed at the tragic state of Indigenous health and support calls by doctors for a greater effort to close the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.
Sadly, the Australian Medical Association's Indigenous Health Report Card 2009 tells a familiar tale, namely that the health of Aboriginal men in particular remains appalling.
It found they can expect to die 11.5 years earlier than non-indigenous men, with indigenous boys almost twice as likely to die in the first year of their lives, than other infants.
"These are more bleak statistics that we simply must address if we're not going to condemn yet another generation of Aboriginal Australians to misery," said Australian Greens Indigenous Spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewert.
Junk food advertising at kids must end:Greens
The Australian Greens have repeated their call for an end to junk food advertising to children, following the release today of a report showing that $300 million would be saved every year by taking this sensible step, Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.
"This research by Deakin University confirms once again, that junk food advertising to children is a major cause of childhood obesity and adult sickness that is huge cost on our health system and the health and wellbeing of our community," Senator Brown said.
"The Government must now take the responsible cost-effective step and put an end to this for the sake of our children's health."
