Commenting on today's report that 67,000 sheep have been stranded for a week at Port Adelaide because of the ship's mechanical problems, Greens NSW Senator and animal welfare spokesperson Lee Rhiannon said the situation was a timely reminder of why the federal government should back the Greens' bill to ban live exports due for debate this Thursday.

"The welfare of the thousands of sheep contained on the 'Al Messilah', a former car transporter built in 1980, has been compromised before they even reach the abattoirs of the Middle East," Senator Rhiannon said.

"The spotlight is now on this vessel and the welfare of the sheep on board because it struck trouble near an Australian port.

Australian Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon and animal welfare spokesperson will speak alongside Lyn White, Animals Australia Investigator and Peter Stevenson, Compassion in World Farming (UK) Policy Advisor at the Sydney Ban Live Exports Rally tomorrow. Rallies, organised by Animals Australia, are happening simultaneously in every city around Australia. The Sydney rally begins at 2.30pm in Martin Place.

Responding to the leaked Coalition report that the opposition razor gang is looking for $70 billion in budget cuts Greens Senator for NSW Lee Rhiannon has said she is concerned an Abbott led government would make life tougher for people living in NSW. (The Australian today).

"Public services across NSW will suffer if the Liberals and Nationals form government at the next election,” Senator Rhiannon said.

“The hardship will be considerable as the Coalition parties will target public services, like health and education.

Commenting on today’s report of new evidence about the mistreatment of Australian animal exports Greens NSW Senator and animal welfare spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has renewed her party’s call for the live export trade to be banned.  (The Australian).

"The exposure by Animals Australia of the cruel handling of Australian sheep and cattle in Turkey puts the Gillard government under further pressure to ban live exports,” Senator Rhiannon said.

Blog by Lee Rhiannon

Last Friday in Newcastle, two members of local community group Rising Tide climbed onto the coal conveyor belt at the coal port and hung a banner saying “We’re sorry Somalia. Coal = climate change and starvation.”

I put out a media release that afternoon congratulating Rising Tide for their peaceful direct action and echoing the community’s message that coal expansion in Australia is directly contributing to worsening impacts of climate change around the world.

Enter The Australian, again putting into practice their editorial stance that the Greens should be destroyed at the ballot box.

Today’s edition of The Australian ran an article criticising me for supporting the action and for linking the drought in the horn of Africa and the famine in Somalia to climate change.

A blog post by Senator Lee Rhiannon

Simone Morrissey died last night, just 24 years old. Our personal and collective sadness is enormous – for Simone, for her family, for all of us.

On Monday Simone suffered an aneurysm that resulted in extensive brain damage. The doctors and nurses at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital made every effort to save Simone. Sadly her partner and family had to make the decision to have her life support turned off.

I still find it so hard to believe that we will not see Simone again.

In many conversations with friends and her family in recent days our thoughts have turned to Simone’s courage, her humanity and her passion. Her sense of justice framed her life.

Federal Greens Senator for NSW Lee Rhiannon today congratulated Rising Tide activists who scaled a coal conveyor belt at the Port of Newcastle to highlight the link between coal, climate change and famine in Somalia.

“Non-violent actions are a courageous way to underline the urgent need to combat the global impacts of climate change by constraining the growth of NSW’s coal industry,” Senator Rhiannon said.

“Ship after ship leaving Newcastle Port, heaped with coal, are contributing to the greatest threat we face in human history.
 

Greens Senator for NSW Lee Rhiannon has called on the Federal government to resist industry demands for foreign aid money to be spent on improving and building new abattoirs in Indonesia, saying such a move will divert funding from the key task of overcoming poverty (“Human costs of export ban hitting hard says NT chief, The Age today).

 “While there is a pressing need to stop the inhumane treatment of cattle in Indonesia, it would be wrong to redirect precious foreign aid dollars to this task,” said animal welfare and foreign aid spokesperson Senator Rhiannon.

“The Greens will not be backing away from our bill to ban live cattle exports.