The Australian Greens have vowed to continue fighting for Aboriginal communities after an Amnesty International report condemned the Federal Government’s abandonment of remote communities in the NT in favour of ‘growth towns’. 

The Amnesty report comes just one day after another highly critical report revealed the expensive gap between policy intent and implementation.

“I welcome the spotlight being returned to examine the state of Aboriginal housing, health, education and disadvantage in this country,” Senator Rachel Siewert, Greens Spokesperson for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Issues said today.

“While these reports highlight major deficiencies in the current delivery of services, the Australian Greens have already been making significant inroads on some of these issues.

Senator Siewert has recently introduced pieces of legislation aimed at reforming the Native Title and re-instating the Racial Discrimination Act in the NT.

“Now that the evidence is beginning to stack up against the past policies of both the Labor Government and the previous Liberal Government, it is impossible for the two old parties to ignore the need for communities to gain control over their own lives.

“The Northern Territory Intervention and compulsory income management was a terrible violation of those principles of self-determination, consultation and partnership, and it is time to unwind these policies and start returning control to communities,” Senator Siewert concluded.

Greens Leader Bob Brown today urged politicians of all stripes to engage in a mature debate about ownership of Australians' assets, including farm land and minerals wealth.

"The Australian Greens have one initial solution - the Foreign Acquisitions Amendment (Agricultural Land) Bill 2010 jointly sponsored by Christine Milne and Nick Xenophon - with all acquisitions by foreign interests to be subject to a proposed $5 million threshold," Senator Brown said in Hobart.

"The bill was introduced into the Senate on 24 November 2010 and was subject to a Senate Inquiry which reported on 16 June 2011."

"The bill provides legislation for a national interest test which includes factors such as national security, any impacts on competition and global industry or market outcomes, any impact on Australian tax revenues, any impact on the Australian economy or community, the character of the investor, and requires online publication of applications of interest in agricultural land."

"There would also be penalties for when a foreign person acquired agricultural land without notifying the Treasurer."

Australian Greens Acting Leader, Senator Christine Milne, today congratulated David Shoebridge, Jan Barham and Jeremy Buckingham on their election to the NSW Legislative Council following the final distribution of preferences.

"David, Jan, Jeremy, Cate, John and Jamie will be a strong Greens voice in both houses of the NSW Parliament," Senator Milne said.

"I am particularly delighted that Jeremy Buckingham has won a close-fought tussle for one of two final seats in the Upper House.

"NSW will now hear Jeremy's common-sense rural Green voice for the next eight years.