Education, Science & Innovation

Bandt congratulates Melbourne science winners

Media Release | Spokesperson Adam Bandt MP
Wednesday 12th October 2011, 5:16pm
in

Greens MP and spokesperson on Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Adam Bandt has congratulated two Melbourne based scientists who have been jointly awarded the the $300,000 Prime Minister's Prize for Science.


Professors Ezio Rizzardo (CSIRO) and David Solomon (University of Melbourne) developed new chemical theories that have had a big impact on the production of polymers, particularly in plastics.


"I want to congratulate two of Melbourne's great scientific pioneers," Mr Bandt said.


"This is a fantastic decision that highlights not just the ground breaking work of these two wonderful scientists but also the important research being undertaken in Melbourne."


"Science and research will increasingly underpin our economic prosperity and our shift to a sustainable society."


"This decision reinforces the importance of continued and increased government and business support for science."


Mr Bandt also congratulated the Stuart Wyithe from the University of Melbourne who has been awarded the Physical Scientist of the Year Award for work on the physics of the formation of the universe.


 

Government must reinstate science education funds: Bandt

Media Release | Spokesperson Adam Bandt MP
Wednesday 28th September 2011, 2:47pm
in

Greens spokesperson for Science and Research, Adam Bandt, has called on the government to reinstate $3.5m in science education funding. This follows Professor Suzanne Cory’s address to the National Press Club today, where she expressed concern science education is on the decline in Australia today.

“Professor Cory made a strong case for linking science education to Australia’s current and future prosperity. Investment in research, innovation and development is critical.”

“Understanding science starts in school and Australian students’ science literacy is lagging behind other countries.”

“Australia’s future economy needs high levels of science literacy.”

“The government should reinstate funding for the very successful Primary Connections and Science by Doing programs run by the Academy of Science. These two programs have improved science education for teachers and students and need only an additional $3.5m over three years.

Greens leader Senator Bob Brown will move a motion in the Senate calling on the Government to reinstate the two programs. 

Contact: Sam La Rocca 0413 620 073

Greens welcome govt’s support for Libyan students

Media Release | Spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young
Friday 2nd September 2011, 11:05am
in

The Australian Greens have today welcomed the federal government's financial assistance to Libyan students and their dependents who are undertaking courses in Australia.

Save and expand foreign aid

Blog Post | Blog of Sarah Hanson-Young
Tuesday 19th July 2011, 10:21am
by ParisLord in

This month the world is learning about the ongoing famine in the Horn of Africa, where about 12 million people have been hit by the worst drought in almost 60 years. Australia has pledged more than $11 million in aid. It's heart-wrenching to see malnourished children in refugee camps in Kenya with tubes in their noses to feed them because their hungry mothers cannot.

Greens concerned about possible school chaplaincy guidelines breach

Media Release | Spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young
Friday 13th May 2011, 4:12pm
in

The Australian Greens are concerned by reports a ministry in Victoria may have breached federal guidelines covering the chaplaincy programme in public schools.

Senator Bob Brown on the 2011-12 budget

Greencast | Spokesperson Bob Brown
Tuesday 10th May 2011, 8:45pm
in

Senator Bob Brown held a press conference where he discussed the government's 2011-12 federal budget.

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Old economy wins while new economy loses

Media Release | Spokesperson Bob Brown
Tuesday 10th May 2011, 7:53pm
in

Public mental health and private mineral wealth are the big winners out of this year's budget, Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

"The Greens are celebrating the $1.5 billion boost to mental health funding, although we are shocked to discover that almost $0.5 billion is outside the forward estimates. There is a bias in the overall budget to the influential mining barons who are unelected and send massive profits overseas. While the mining corporations gain, programs for Australians, including the environment have been cut by billions," Senator Brown said.

Statement from Greens on federal bonus payments to teachers

Media Release | Spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young
Monday 2nd May 2011, 4:12pm
in

The Australian Greens encourage and support excellence in the teaching of our children.

"We want our school environments to be the best possible," Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson on education, said.

"We don't believe a one-off payment to teachers, based on the performance of students according to NAPLAN test results, is the best way to reward them.

"We know teachers in every school across the country work very hard at educating our children, often in trying circumstances. We believe our teachers deserve better pay and conditions, particularly if we wish to encourage graduates to enter the field and be retained."

Greens Offer Real Support For Struggling Students

Media Release | Spokesperson Adam Bandt MP
Thursday 22nd July 2010, 4:21pm
in

<p>
 Adam joined Senator Sarah Hanson-Young at RMIT this week and<span lang="en-au"><font color="#2a2a2a"> released a four-point plan to help tackle student poverty and housing affordability.</font></span></p>
<p dir="ltr">
 <span lang="en-au"><font color="#2a2a2a">Senator Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson on Youth and Education, says the Greens have recognised the need for action to provide real support for students. </font></span></p>
<p dir="ltr">
 <span lang="en-au"><font color="#2a2a2a">&ldquo;Access to higher education should be a right for all, not just a chosen few,&rsquo;&rsquo; Senator Hanson-Young said.</font></span></p>
<p dir="ltr">
 <span lang="en-au"><font color="#2a2a2a">&ldquo;We know, however, that students are increasingly being forced to juggle study and work, and that for some people it is just not financially feasible.</font></span></p>
<p dir="ltr">
 <span lang="en-au"><font color="#2a2a2a">&ldquo;According to NUS figures, 66 per cent of students are suffering from extreme rental stress, while Universities Australia data shows the average fortnightly living cost for students is $670, including $232 on rent alone.</font></span></p>
<p dir="ltr">
 <span lang="en-au"><font color="#2a2a2a">&ldquo;There is an urgent need to provide additional help for students &ndash; and the Greens are determined to</font></span><span lang="en-au"> deliver that support, allowing</span><span lang="en-au"> for</span><span lang="en-au"> <font color="#2a2a2a">a fairer system for all.&rsquo;&rsquo; </font></span></p>
<p dir="ltr">
 <span lang="en-au"><font color="#2a2a2a">The Greens&rsquo; plan would: </font></span></p>
<p dir="ltr">
 <span lang="en"><font color="#000000">■ Lift the basic fortnightly rate of Youth Allowance, which has not risen apart from indexation since it was introduced in 1998, from $371.40 to the Greens&rsquo; increased Newstart rate of $486. The proposal would give students $115 extra per fortnight at an overall cost of $680m per annum. </font></span></p>
<p dir="ltr">
 <span lang="en"><font color="#000000">■ Ensure universities are required to develop a plan - under the Government&rsquo;s Transforming Higher Education Agenda - listing measures to boost affordable student housing.</font></span></p>
<p dir="ltr">
 <span lang="en"><font color="#000000">■ Put an extra $50 million into the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) for a specific new student division to boost student housing. This will give universities assistance to build student-specific accommodation, and allow students access to accommodation at a cost 20 per cent below the market rate.</font></span></p>
<p dir="ltr">
 <span lang="en"><font color="#000000">■ Require university student accommodation to operate under the same tenancy laws as other accommodation, giving students the same rights as all tenants.</font></span></p>
<p dir="ltr">
 <span lang="en-au"><font color="#2a2a2a">&ldquo;Our plan is another example of the Greens delivering good outcomes for the community &ndash; we&nbsp; will give students the help they need to access tertiary education,&rsquo;&rsquo; Senator Hanson-Young said.</font></span></p>

Senator Bob Brown's address to the National Press Club - July 2010

Speech | Spokesperson Bob Brown
Wednesday 14th July 2010, 5:02pm
in

At this National Press Club I acknowledge the traditional owners of the Canberra region and all the Indigenous people of our nation.

This year will be another milestone in politics for the Australian Greens. The sole balance of power in the Senate and a breakthrough into the House of Representatives are both within reach. Australia's voters are looking for more progressive politics and the stable, experienced leadership which we alone have produced over the past three turbulent years in Canberra.