Media Releases

Greens assured over $439m to Tasmanian schools

Media Release | Spokesperson Bob Brown
Friday 19th March 2010, 12:58pm
in

Contrary to Labor spin, the Australian Greens' support for the Rudd government's $42 billion economic stimulus package has resulted in Tasmanian schools, including the Catholic and independent schools sharing in $439 millions for new classrooms, libraries and other amenities.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said that the Liberals opposed the package outright.

"But the Greens got it through the Senate," Senator Brown said.

"This funding boost for schools and the building industry resulted in $327 million going to 203 public schools, $74 million to 36 Catholic schools and $38 million to 32 independent schools in Tasmania."

"Left to the Liberals, not one dollar would have come to Tasmania."

"Labor should give the Greens credit where its due," Senator Brown said.

Media contact: Erin Farley 0438 376 082

Rudd prepares to open the uranium floodgates to Russia

Media Release | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Thursday 18th March 2010, 5:49pm
in

On the eve of the most important international disarmament negotiations in a generation, the Rudd Government has foreshadowed uranium sales to Russia, which holds the world's largest stockpile of nuclear weapons.


Late in 2008 the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) made a strong recommendation against a Howard-era Russia uranium deal proceeding, unless a number of important conditions were met.


"Instead of a reasoned rebuttal of the JSCOT report, the Government's response reads like a poorly worded press release from the uranium mining industry," said Greens Senator Scott Ludlam, spokesperson on nuclear issues.

Building efficiency disclosure welcome, but Greens' bill would deliver greater benefits

Media Release | Spokesperson Christine Milne
Thursday 18th March 2010, 2:02pm
in

The Greens today welcomed the final arrival of the Rudd government's election promise to require non-residential commercial buildings to disclose their energy efficiency to potential purchasers or lessees.

The disclosure scheme is a small step forward, but will have nowhere the broad positive impact for lowering energy bills, increasing productivity and reducing emissions that the Greens Energy Efficient Non-Residential Buildings Scheme would have.

"I'm glad that this disclosure scheme has finally arrived, but it is disappointing that once again the Rudd government has opted for the lowest common denominator instead of reaching towards ambitious action," Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

Government Fails the Nuclear Weapons Test

Media Release | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Thursday 18th March 2010, 11:15am
in

The government and the opposition today voted against a Senate motion that simply noted a number of public statements.


"If the government can't even note statements made by its own Ambassadors, the Attorney General, the UN Secretary General, Gareth Evans and an article of a treaty Australia signed in 1973 we are in real trouble," said Senator Scott Ludlam, Australian Greens spokesperson on nuclear issues.

Greens propose way forward on Do Not Call Register

Media Release | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Wednesday 17th March 2010, 6:07pm
in

The Australian Greens have moved a proposal that would save the Government unnecessary expense and prevent telemarketers from being able to call people who are about to be inadvertently deleted from the "do not call" register.


"Around one million telephone numbers are due to come off the do not call register in May, as entries lapse every three years," said Greens Communications spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam.


"The Government is about to embark on a costly process of advertising to get Australians to put themselves back on the register when they lapse.

Greens' Efficient Building Scheme garners international support at Senate Inquiry

Media Release | Spokesperson Christine Milne
Wednesday 17th March 2010, 6:01pm
in

A Greens Bill to establish a world-leading scheme to upgrade the energy efficiency of Australia's non-residential buildings such as offices, shopping centres, hotels and schools has received positive support from many experts, but been treated with studied disinterest by both Labor and Coalition Senators at a Senate inquiry.

The Energy Efficient Non-Residential Buildings Scheme, developed from an idea from Lend Lease, WSP Lincolne Scott and Advanced Environmental, would establish a cap and trade scheme for building energy efficiency, ensuring that all of Australia's non-residential buildings are upgraded as swiftly and fairly as possible.

"This Senate Inquiry has overwhelmingly confirmed the need for robust policies to improve the energy efficiency of Australia's non-residential buildings," Senator Milne said.

Australia takes first step toward UN Commission of Inquiry on Burma rights abuses

Media Release | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Wednesday 17th March 2010, 4:27pm
in

The Federal Government has taken a lead internationally by agreeing to "investigate possible options for the establishment of a United Nations commission of inquiry" into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma.


"The Australian Greens have been calling on the Government to take this step for more than a year, and this is extremely welcome news," Greens Senator Scott Ludlam said today.

Brighton Army Barracks sold at 7% of value

Media Release | Spokesperson Bob Brown
Wednesday 17th March 2010, 3:32pm
in

The Brighton Army Barracks, now worth $35 million, were sold by the federal Liberal government in 2003 for $150,000 despite a valuation of $2.4 million.


Greens Leader Bob Brown asked Defence Minister John Faulkner today in the Senate how the Valuer General could have got the valuation so wrong.


Senator Brown called for a review of policy on the sale of land to prevent such a debate in future.


 


 


 

Canberra call to clean up politics

Media Release | Spokesperson Bob Brown
Wednesday 17th March 2010, 3:07pm
in

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown has moved in the Senate for the establishment of a Truth in Political Advertising Unit before the federal election due later this year.


His motion will be voted on tomorrow.

The Real Work For Student Income Support Starts Now

Media Release | Spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young
Wednesday 17th March 2010, 1:36pm
in

The Senate's agreement on Youth Allowance only marks the beginning of the campaign to achieve equality for student income support, according to Green Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.


Senator Hanson-Young, Greens Education spokesperson, says the Greens secured a $20 million taskforce in the package to look at ways of delivering income support to rural and regional areas.


"Thank goodness this legislation has finally passed through the Senate, with just 24 hours to go for the Parliament to agree without missing the cut-off for students to drop courses without paying fees,'' Senator Hanson-Young said.