The Australian Greens spokesperson for health, Senator Richard Di Natale, today called upon the Opposition to stick to its original pledge to support plain packaging for tobacco.

“The Opposition claimed to support plain packaging, but is now turning away from the necessary legislation, a Trademarks bill, to make this happen,” Senator Di Natale said.

“This bill quite specifically relates only to tobacco, and to claim otherwise is untrue.

The exclusion of coal and coal bed methane from Mecrus Resources’ exploration licence application is a big win for regional Victoria’s agriculture and tourism industries, Victorian Greens Senator Richard Di Natale said today.

“Mecrus Resources is the second mining company in Victoria recently to listen to widespread community concerns about coal and coal seam gas mining, and withdraw their exploration licence application in these areas,” Senator Di Natale said.

The Government’s feasibility study into a high speed rail network for the east coast shows regional Victoria stands to gain great benefits should the network go ahead, Senator Richard Di Natale said today.

“This study shows that high speed rail is a real option, and would be a huge boost to regional centres in Victoria,” Senator Di Natale said.

The Greens spokesperson for West Papua and East Timor, Senator Richard Di Natale, today condemned the horrific acts of violence that left 21 people dead in separate killings across West Papua.

"The Greens condemn all acts of violence in the West Papua region in the strongest terms," Senator Di Natale said.

“While details of the killings are yet unclear, the incidents appear to be related to the planning of large pro-independence demonstrations across West Papua.

Health spokesperson for the Australian Greens, Senator Richard Di Natale, today said that the Government’s health reform package is a good first step but falls short of having a significant impact on the health of Australians.

“These reforms will clarify the funding relationship between Federal and State Governments for hospitals, and that’s a good thing,” Senator Di Natale said.

Mantle Mining promises to abandon bid to explore for brown coal at Deans Marsh community meeting.

Listen to the full audio (ABC Radio) here

At last night’s community meeting in Deans Marsh, Mantle Mining walked away from their application to explore for brown coal in the Geelong-Otways region with a view to strip-mining.

Federal Greens Senator Richard Di Natale and Victorian Greens MP Greg Barber were present at the community meeting to welcome the news.

“This outcome marks a turning point in our fight to protect this country’s valuable environmental assets,” Senator Di Natale said.