The Australian Greens have condemned the Gillard government's Memorandum of Understanding signed with its Papua New Guinea counterpart to reopen the Manus Island detention centre first used by the former Howard government.

"Ten years after the former Howard government opened it, the Gillard government has shown it has learned nothing from the damage Manus Island caused asylum seekers, let alone how it tainted Australia's international reputation," Greens' immigration spokesperson, Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young, said today.

"This is merely the Pacific Solution reloaded.

"The Greens intend referring the Manus Island proposal to a Senate inquiry, as we've done for the Malaysian deal, because in both cases Parliament has not been allowed to scrutinise the government's intentions. 

"We want to know how much the Manus Island deal will cost Australian taxpayers, who will be expelled there and what happens should their claims for protection be approved.

"The Immigration Minister has also yet to answer how he will uphold his obligations to act in the best interests of the unaccompanied children for whom he is responsible as their legal guardian."

The revelation by prominent media figure Ita Buttrose that, as editor-in-chief of the Sunday Telegraph and the Daily Telegraph, owner Rupert Murdoch asked her to have a citizen followed is deeply troubling.

“This highly respected Australian would not release this information lightly. It adds greatly to speculation that the culture of Mr Murdoch’s empire percolates down, not up” said Senator Brown today.

“It is to Ms Buttrose’s enormous credit that she refused to have the person followed or, in her own words, to ‘go beyond what I thought I should do’.”

Senator Brown is having talks with the government to establish a new inquiry into the media in Australia.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown expressed great sadness today at the loss of another Australian soldier in Afghanistan.

"The Greens join all Australians in offering condolences to his family and friends, and his comrades in Afghanistan, and we are grateful for his service to the nation.”
 
Twenty-nine Australian soldiers have now lost their lives while serving in Afghanistan.

In the Senate this afternoon the Liberals blocked a vote on Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown’s motion condemning the Liberals’ failure to provide a constructive alternative to scores of contractors facing market downturn, closures of three export woodchip mills and regional areas of Tasmania the development opportunities the package will provide.

The Greens allowed a vote on two Liberal motions on the same issue last week.

“This is a Liberal effort to block $80 million flowing to Tasmanian forestry contractors facing business ruin.

“Liberal Leader Senator Abetz is saying to the Gillard government ‘don’t send the $80m to Tasmania, spend it elsewhere,’” Senator Brown said.

The Australian Greens today called on the Federal Government to commit to revealing the actual numbers of wounded and injured Australian soldiers in Afghanistan, successfully securing the promise of a review in the way in which casualties are reported.

Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam said the Australian people are entitled to know the full cost of the war without needing to use Freedom of Information laws to secure the truth.

"Documents released under FOI revealed that the government's publicly stated figure of 184 wounded Australians in Afghanistan does not tell even half the story. More than 920 wounded and injured Australian soldiers in Afghanistan have received compensation for amputated limbs, severe burns, bullets still lodged in flesh and major depression.

"The public has the right to form an informed view of this nation's role in the Afghanistan war - and can't do that without a clear picture of the cost of the war."

Senator Ludlam asked the government in the Senate chamber if they would commit to regular reporting of the numbers of wounded and injured troops in Afghanistan, and to releasing more information about the nature of the wounds and injuries, and the types of treatment and support offered to soldiers returning from Afghanistan.

Following the recent revelation that two female ADF personnel were wounded by a rocket attack in Kandahar in March 2007, Senator Ludlam also asked if the Government would continue the practice of concealing the gender of the wounded and injured soldiers.

In response Senator Chris Evans, representing Minister for Defence Stephen Smith, said the government has a policy of concealing the gender of reported casualties but committed to reviewing the reporting of wounds and injuries and associated treatment and compensation.

Media Contact: Giovanni Torre - 0417 174 302

The Australian Greens have called on Tony Abbott to show leadership and let Coalition MPs have a conscience vote on marriage equality, as reports indicate the ALP is preparing ahead of its national conference in December.

"We think it's time the Coalition joined the increasing number of everyday Australians who want same sex couples to be able to marry the person they love," Greens' marriage equality spokesperson, Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young, said today.

"The Coalition should back the one federal law which celebrates love and commitment, because it would demonstrate the federal government supports equality for all adult couples instead of the present discrimination.

"Repeated surveys show most Australians are in favour of amending the Marriage Act so same-sex couples can get married.

"Coalition politicians including Malcolm Turnbull, Julie Bishop and Joe Hockey have said their electorates are in favour of the change.

"This Wednesday the parliament will hear views from all MPs who were asked to engage with their constituents to learn where they stood on the matter."

Thousands of people are facing losing their job and it's the Greens' policies that go further to address the two-speed economy, Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

"We will go to the tax forum with a proposal that we get back to the Treasury-recommended super profits tax, and a sovereign wealth fund, so that we, as a nation, can better consider how to support manufacturing," Senator Brown said in Canberra.

"This is a two-speed and dysfunctional economy which should have had the support of the Greens' proposed sovereign wealth fund and the resource
super profits tax. The big parties should be doing better, particularly the Abbott opposition which has even opposed the much more modest mining tax proposed by the Gillard government."

"We should always be innovating, the economy should be evolving, and there's nothing innovative about digging minerals out of the ground and exporting the massive profits," Senator Brown said.

"Some might call the predicted thousands of trucks descending on Canberra ending up as hundreds (ABC, 21/8/11) a ‘flop', but these Australians have every right to a peaceful presence on the parliamentary lawns," Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

"It seems like the prime qualification to be there is to be angry about something - these are Abbott's angry people," Senator Brown said.

"But it seems their views on some issues are fairly shorted sighted, very ‘me-now'."

"The number of angry people in Canberra tomorrow will increase much more than the numbers of truckers arriving in town," Senator Brown predicted.

Will Hodgman’s tearing up of the Commonwealth–State forests agreement means he wants $276 million sent back to Canberra, Greens Leader Bob Brown today. 

“This is Will Hodgman leaving scores of contractors to financial ruin. He is offering not financial alternative. 

“When the logging crowd chanted ‘save our mills, pay our bills’ Mr Hodgman offered to do neither. The forests agreement offers an option for both,” Senator Brown said. 

Senator Brown said work was proceeding to give Tasmania a new set of national parks which would rival Muir Woods and the Redwood National and State Parks in the US in coming years, creating jobs and investment for Tasmania in the wake of the collapsing native forest logging industry.

Greens Senator for South Australia Penny Wright says the Australian Greens share the concerns of South Australian apple and pear growers over the importation of New Zealand apples.

“Problems for apple and pear growers do extend further than the Apple Isle,” Senator Wright said. “The South Australian apple industry is worth a reported $57.6 million, while estimates suggest the SA pear industry is worth an additional $9.2 million.”

“Importing New Zealand apples brings with it the risk of fireblight disease. This possibility has been a great concern to The Greens for some years. These are significant industries for SA growers and fireblight would have a devastating impact on the apple and pear industry. 

“The Greens have long urged people to buy local produce and support local growers and this debate is no exception. If we don’t buy South Australian apples we won’t have South Australian apple growers.”

Greens biosecurity spokesperson Christine Milne yesterday spoke in Parliament about the risks posed to the Australian apple and pear industries: http://greensmps.org.au/content/speech/milne-apple-imports-new-zealand.

Media enquiries -  Lauren Zwaans ph: 08 8205 1065

Western Australians will begin a one thousand-kilometre protest march against uranium mining this Sunday 21 August.

Australian Greens nuclear affairs spokesperson, Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam, will join the ‘Walk Away From Uranium Mining' on Sunday as it begins the long journey from Wiluna to Perth.

"This is an extraordinary moment for our state and for the future. The nuclear industry is in decline around the world and public awareness of the dangers of uranium mining and nuclear power is growing.

"This march is a powerful statement from Western Australians who do not want uranium mining in WA and who do not want their state to support the nuclear industry in any way.

"Uranium mining has a horrendous environmental, health and safety record in this country, and it provides the fuel for the toxic, dangerous and unnecessary nuclear power industry - and for nuclear weapons.

"The people walking from Wiluna to Perth are in step with the growing list of countries around the world - including Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Portugal, Greece and Ireland - who are officially walking away from nuclear power."

The march begins in Wiluna, which has been targeted by Toro Energy for a proposed uranium mine, and will go through Yeelirrie (another potential uranium mine site), Leonora, Kalgoorlie and Southern Cross and will arrive in Perth on 27 October, followed by three days of events in the city.

The Walk Away From Uranium Mining is organised by Footprints for Peace and supported by the Conservation Council of Western Australia Inc., Western Australian Nuclear Free Alliance, Ban Uranium Mining Permanently, People for Nuclear Disarmament and the Anti-Nuclear Alliance of Western Australia.

Details and itinerary:

http://footprints.footprintsforpeace.net/nffcampaign/upload/files/Austra...

Media Contact: Giovanni Torre - 0417 174 302

Friday 19 August 2011

Comparisons between respected climate science and the smoke and mirrors presented by the gas industry are absurd, the Greens said today.

"All we are asking is that honest data on the climate impact of coalseam gas should be put on the table," Australian Greens Senator Larissa Waters, said.

"The community is already deeply concerned about the potential impact on prime farming land and the Great Artesian Basin from coal seam gas. If governments and industry are going to make bold claims about the climate benefits of this fuel, they had better be very confident indeed that those claims are true.

"So far not only has the Queensland government admitted that it has done no independent studies but the head of Origin Energy, Grant King, has also acknowledged that information on the climate impact of coal seam gas is 'less readily available'.

"Surely we don't want to sell out our farmers and our capacity to feed ourselves and others for possible marginal climate gain.

"We have alternatives for energy but no alternatives for food."

Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said "The Commonwealth government should ensure that independent studies are done that present comprehensive empirical evidence of the full life-cycle emissions of Australian coal seam gas, from extraction through processing and transportation to point of use.

"The scientific evidence for climate change is on the table. Plenty of examples of truly zero pollution energy generation are up and running around the world, including baseload solar power stations that generate power through the night with molten salts.

"Meanwhile we are expected to take industry claims at face value that this new fossil fuel industry is substantially less polluting than coal."

Senator Waters said "When it comes to the burgeoning export market, the enormous energy investment in liquefying the gas needs to be taken into account, making its climate benefit that much smaller. This part of the equation appears to have been conveniently forgotten by industry, despite the bulk of coal seam gas being intended for export.

"Australians deserve to see the evidence and make a judgement on whether coal seam gas is an investment worth making."

Contact:  Tim Hollo on 0437 587 562

Comparisons between respected climate science and the smoke and mirrors presented by the gas industry are absurd, the Greens said today.

"All we are asking is that honest data on the climate impact of coal seam gas should be put on the table," Australian Greens Senator Larissa Waters, said.

"The community is already deeply concerned about the potential impact on prime farming land and the Great Artesian Basin from coal seam gas. If governments and industry are going to make bold claims about the climate benefits of this fuel, they had better be very confident indeed that those claims are true.

"So far not only has the Queensland government admitted that it has done no independent studies but the head of Origin Energy, Grant King, has also acknowledged that information on the climate impact of coal seam gas is ‘less readily available'.

"Surely we don't want to sell out our farmers and our capacity to feed ourselves and others for possible marginal climate gain.

"We have alternatives for energy but no alternatives for food."

Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said "The Commonwealth government should ensure that independent studies are done that present comprehensive empirical evidence of the full life-cycle emissions of Australian coal seam gas, from extraction through processing and transportation to point of use.

"The scientific evidence for climate change is on the table. Plenty of examples of truly zero pollution energy generation are up and running around the world, including baseload solar power stations that generate power through the night with molten salts.
"Meanwhile we are expected to take industry claims at face value that this new fossil fuel industry is substantially less polluting than coal."

Senator Waters said "When it comes to the burgeoning export market, the enormous energy investment in liquefying the gas needs to be taken into account, making its climate benefit that much smaller. This part of the equation appears to have been conveniently forgotten by industry, despite the bulk of coal seam gas being intended for export.

"Australians deserve to see the evidence and make a judgement on whether coal seam gas is an investment worth making."

The Greens have welcomed the Federal Environment Minister's announcement of a Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Perth and Peel Region.

Greens state spokesperson for urban bushland, Alison Xamon MLC, said "a strategic assessment provides an opportunity to fully identify and protect Perth's environmental heritage and world-renowned biodiversity - but it's very important that we get it right".

"I'll also be seeking answers on whether the Minister intends to declare a moratorium on clearing any further urban bushland and wetlands until the strategic assessment is complete."

Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam, Greens spokesperson for sustainable cities, said the announcement was an over-due but important step in fixing the state's "shamefully inadequate and compromised protection regimes for urban bushland and biodiversity".

Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren, spokesperson for Planning, said that "in one generation Perth has sprawled from Yanchep to Mandurah - with too little control on the quality of development or the loss of habitat".

"The methodical approach offered by the Strategic Environmental Assessment means we can hit pause, and examine the areas that are appropriate for development and those which are not," she said. "My hope is that it also kick-starts the creation of greenways identified by Minister Day in our metropolitan planning strategies Directions 2031 and the Perth Capital City Planning Framework."

With the Terms of Reference yet to be completed, many important questions remain.

Senator Ludlam said the announcement "is a great relief and vindicates the valiant efforts being made by communities across Perth to save our iconic species and habitats. I'll be holding Minister Tony Burke to account to make sure we get the best outcomes possible - because if this is done poorly it could accelerate the loss".

Media Contact: Giovanni Torre - 0417 174 302

Greens Leader Bob Brown said he is delighted that the Senate has passed the Greens' territory rights private senator's bill.

"This important democratic legislation prevents territory laws being overridden at the whim of just one federal minister," Senator Brown said in Canberra today.

"Territorians in the Northern Territory and ACT deserve better than that. I hope that the House of Representatives will soon deal with the legislation and that all MPs will back the bill and the territories' rights," Senator Brown said.

The Senate voted 35-29 to pass Senator Brown's bill, the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Amendment (Disallowance and Amendment Power of the Commonwealth) Bill 2010.

Today is a sad day for Australian apple and pear growers as the first shipment of New Zealand apples destined for Australia left today following the Federal Government's agreement to provide a permit for their importation, Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Christine Milne said today.

"There is no doubt that fire blight will come to Australia; the question of whether or not it will spread remains hotly contested and history shows that a disease free country like Australia is likely to lose that status over time.

"At the very time when disease free status is a critical and bankable asset we are seeing that status put in jeopardy because of the WTO rules and Australia's loss to New Zealand in that forum.

"Australia's refusal to review the nexus between free trade and the need to fund highest standards of biosecurity remains an ongoing problem not only for apples, but for every agricultural commodity as other countries seek to open our markets under the provisions of negligible risk.

"Tasmania must do all it can to maintain disease free status on our island as we did in the case of Canadian salmon, and the Greens will do everything in our power to facilitate that happening," Senator Milne said.

Senator Milne spoke in parliament yesterday on apple imports, free trade and food security. Her speech can be accessed through this link:

http://greensmps.org.au/content/speech/milne-apple-imports-new-zealand

People living in Liberal electorates will have their voice silenced on the issue of marriage equality as a result of the Liberals practically ruling out a conscience vote on the issue, the Australian Greens have warned.

 "Today the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Senator George Brandis, practically closed the door on allowing a conscience vote for Liberal members of Parliament," Greens' LGBTI spokesperson, Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young, said today.

"This is disappointing as the position on marriage equality should not be dictated by party politics and the voice of local communities should be heard.

"Those living in Liberal electorates should have the same say as other voters on this important reform. Marriage equality isn't a Labor, Liberal or Green issue - there is strong support for this across the political divide and in electorates right across the country.

"A poll conducted by Malcolm Turnbull in his seat of Wentworth found 72 per cent support for marriage equality and a poll conducted by Teresa Gambaro in Brisbane found 73 per cent support. Why should these communities be denied the right to have their voice heard?"

Senator Brandis reaffirmed his party's support for the stance taken by John Howard in 2004 on marriage in the Senate earlier today.

The Australian Greens have put the Government on notice to fix serious flaws in the proposed Cybercrime Bill before presenting it for debate.

Greens communications spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam applauded the tabling of a unanimous and highly critical report by the Cyber Safety Committee, which has proposed a series of amendments to the bill.

"We all want to see enhanced collaboration by law enforcement agencies fighting serious crime, but the proposed law goes well beyond the already controversial European convention on which it is based and could encroach on civil liberties. No explanation was provided for this overreach.

"The European Treaty doesn't require ongoing collection and retention of communications, but the Australian Bill does. The bill also leaves the door open for Australia to assist in prosecutions which could lead to the death penalty overseas. These flaws must be addressed before the bill proceeds," said Senator Ludlam.

"We have recommended a number of improvements to the bill including fixing these flaws and clarifying the Ombudsman's powers to inspect and audit compliance with the preservation regime."

Senator Ludlam said the Greens were concerned the process had been rushed.

"A disturbing pattern of behaviour has emerged - with the Attorney General's Department repeatedly seeking to fast track legislation which extends well beyond its nominal purpose and encroaches upon on the civil liberties of Australians in the name of security."

The Australian Greens additional comments:

http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jscc/cybercrime_bill/report/additi...

The Report:

http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jscc/cybercrime_bill/report.htm

Media Contact: Giovanni Torre - 0417 174 302

The Australian Greens have welcomed AMA National President Dr Steve Hambleton's comments that mandatory detention is "inherently harmful to the physical and mental health of detainees...especially....children."

Dr Hambleton's remarks join a chorus of similar concerns expressed in recent months by the AMA'S NT branch president and others such as the Australian Human Rights Commission and the UN Human Rights Commissioner.

"There's a growing weight of evidence from medical professionals and other health experts that the policy of mandatory detention causes unnecessary and preventable damage to asylum seekers, particularly children," Greens' immigration spokesperson, Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young, said today.

"Mandatory detention hasn't worked as a deterrent to people seeking Australia's protection since it was enacted in 1992 by the former Keating government.

"Australian taxpayers have spent billions of dollars on maintaining the detention network, and unknown millions of dollars in compensation for people who have been damaged by their time in detention.

"The Greens hope that the expanding numbers of people and groups who are questioning the point of mandatory detention, plus a new parliamentary inquiry into the practice, will convince the government to use alternatives.

"Alternatives, such as community detention after initial health and security checks, are cheaper to operate and do not cause unnecessary physical and mental damage to asylum seekers.

"The government and opposition should finally realise that their policy is damaging and unworkable, and it should be abolished."

Greens Leader Bob Brown has attacked Forestry Tasmania's clamp on basic information and its failure to open up its data bank to public scrutiny.

"Forestry Tasmania's data bank is a public asset. That data - and not just modelling using selected fragments of it - should be publicly
available," Senator Brown said today.

In the Senate, Senator Brown yesterday attacked Forestry Tasmania's selective use of information and its refusal to open up its data bank so that Tasmania's forest resource could be evaluated independently.

The following motions are intended to be voted on next week:

Monday:

That the Senate condemns the Opposition's ongoing attacks on the Inter Governmental Agreement on Tasmania's forests and the Opposition's failure to provide a constructive alternative for scores of contractors facing business ruin, closures of three export woodchip mills and regional areas of Tasmania welcoming the development opportunities the package will provide.

Tuesday:

That the Senate calls on senators from the Liberal Party of Australia and The Nationals to account for the $240 million of public money given to the Tasmanian logging industry by the Howard Government in 2004 and to explain to the parliament why this money did not halt the loss of markets, the closure of woodchip mills and the loss of hundreds of jobs in 2011.