You are hereSouth Australia
South Australia
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.
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.
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.
The Greens' Practical Plan to Solve the Youth Allowance Crisis
The Australian Greens have announced a three-point plan to solve the Youth Allowance crisis and provide vital assistance to students, according to Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.
Senator Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson on Education, says the Senate's failure to pass legislation last year has left students and their families in total confusion over what is happening with student income support.
"Students and their families don't care who gets the credit, they just want someone to end the confusion and find a solution that gives them the support they need to access tertiary education,'' Senator Hanson-Young said.
"This may be a political problem for the major parties, but it is an urgent practical problem for young people who have no idea what support - if any - they will have as they prepare for starting university next week.
Government must fix environment funding program: Greens
The Australian Greens have called on the Federal Government to urgently reform its Caring for Our Country program because it is having a negative impact on the community's ability to carry out land repair activities.
Senator Rachel Siewert speaking on the tabling of a report of committee inquiry into Natural Resource Management programs, initiated by the Greens, said the inquiry showed that the Government's program needs changing urgently.
The committee inquiry highlighted many problems with Caring for Our Country which need to be fixed if we're to maintain and improve the level of activity and energy in the community for landcare and land management," Senator Siewert said.
Govt Has Duty To Prevent League Tables
The Federal Government must recognise the depth of concern by public school teachers over the dangers of skills testing results being used to create misleading "League Tables'', according to Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.
Senator Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson on Education, says that while the Government has made clear it wants to distribute information on schools via the MySchool website, it cannot ignore the other ways such information can be misused.
"Teachers are people who care deeply about educating Australia's children and are the ones who will have to deal with the effects of misleading and damaging comparisons made by the development of league tables,'' Senator Hanson-Young said.
Greens Express Concern for People of Haiti
The Australian Greens have expressed their heartfelt concern for the people of Haiti following yesterday's devastating earthquakes which hit the capital, Port Au Prince.
"Our thoughts are with the many people who have lost their homes, or been injured or killed in the earthquake,'' said Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson on Human Rights.
"We wish all the rescue agencies well in trying to save as many lives as possible and to bring comfort to the survivors and their families.
Opposition Return to TPVs A Disgrace
The Greens reject the Federal Opposition's outrageous "new" immigration policy that revisits the worst excesses of the Howard Government, according to Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.
Senator Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson on Immigration and Human Rights, says the announcement that the Opposition would re-introduce the cruel and inhumane practice of Temporary Protection Visas for asylum seekers shows Malcolm Turnbull has learned nothing from the failures of his predecessors.
"Malcolm Turnbull has clearly laid his cards on the table on immigration,'' Senator Hanson-Young said.
"His push for Temporary Protection Visas is a disgrace - they were inhumane under the Howard regime, and nothing will change if they are introduced by a future Liberal Government.''
"The Prime Minister must come out quickly and reject this policy - Kevin Rudd needs to prove he is not a wolf in sheep's clothing, and show he has the courage not to join the Opposition's desperate quest for popularity on the back of hateful fear-mongering.''
Use Some Diplomacy On Asylum Seekers, PM
The Prime Minister must show some leadership and take the venom out of the debate on asylum seekers, according to Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.
Senator Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson for Immigration and Human Rights, says both Kevin Rudd and Malcolm Turnbull are doing themselves and the public a disservice by continuing to refer to asylum seekers as "illegal''.
People who are fleeing persecution have every right to seek asylum under international law, and the Press Council has warned that the use of the words "illegal" or "illegals" in coverage of the issue is inaccurate.
"As a career diplomat, Mr Rudd knows very well the importance of the words he uses,'' Senator Hanson-Young said.
Act On Human Rights - Make It Law, Mr Rudd
The Greens have called on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and his Government to act quickly in response to the Human Rights Consultation Report, to set out a clear agenda protecting people's rights and to introduce a Human Rights Act.
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson on Human Rights, says the Government must not dither over its response to the report, urging the Prime Minister to show the public that their human rights are protected by more than mere rhetoric.
"The Government must tell the public what it intends to do with these recommendations ahead of the election next year,'' Senator Hanson-Young said. "This report must not be left sitting in the in-tray until the Government deems it appropriate to deal with - we need a timetable now.''
"The response to the consultation - more than 35,000 submissions - shows that Australians are very concerned about the need for government protection of human rights.''
