Greens MPs

Check out this video by GetUp about the delegation of refugees who visited Parliament House last Thursday, as the legislation to abolish detention debts passed through the House of Representatives. I look forward to voting to repeal this cruel policy when the legislation reaches the Senate in the next parliamentary sitting. Thanks to GetUp for providing the opportunity for federal parliamentarians to meet with Mr and Mrs Shams and Mr Isrith, hear their stories, and see the human faces of this disgraceful element of Australia's recent immigration policy.

Sarah

Australia's Anti-Terrorism laws were rammed through Parliament in haste and need to be reviewed to determine which merit retention and modernisation. However, some of the laws don't even deserve the dignity of being subject to review by the long-awaited independent reviewer of terrorism laws. I have introduced the Anti-Terrorism Laws Reform Bill 2009 to identify those parts of the anti-terrorism laws that are irrational, unused or extreme and should be removed from Australia's statues.

A collaboration between Tangentyere Research and filmmaker Vincent Lamberti, Intervention looks at the impacts of the Federal Government's Northern Territory Emergency Response into Aboriginal Communities, otherwise known as the 'Intervention', from the perspective of the people who live under the legislation day in day out. It was the Winner of the Documentary Australia Award 2008 for Best Documentary raising awareness around an important social issue.

Intervention will screen on ABC1 this Sunday June 21st at 1.30pm

The Government and other naysayers say it can't be done. The Greens say it must be done, so it will be done.

Christine Milne spoke today at the National Press Club in Canberra, televised nationally on ABC1, setting out the Greens' vision for a safe climate and setting that against what the Government is proposing with the CPRS.

You can read the speech here and please use this as an open thread to discuss the issues it raises!

Donations from more than 1000 members of the public have poured in to help pay the $240,000 legal costs bill for Forestry Tasmania.

Most of the donations are modest but they range from $7.20 to $20,000 (for the purchase of a Wedge-tail eagle painting). Bob would like to pass on that he is extremely grateful and sends his heartfelt thanks to everyone who offered support.

It shows how strongly people feel about the fate of Tasmania's wild forests and their wildlife. There were many more offers to raise money.

On Saturday 13th June, a national rally is being held in most capital cities around Australia. All five Greens Senators will be speaking at or attending rallies across Australia tomorrow calling for the CPRS to be scrapped and replaced with swift action to reduce emissions, drive renewable energy and create green jobs.

• Bob will address the Melbourne Rally, 1pm, State Library
• Christine will address the Hobart Rally, 12 noon, Parliament Lawns
• Rachel will address the Perth Rally, with Scott also attending, 12.30 pm, Forrest Place, Perth
• Sarah will address the Adelaide Rally, 11am, Victoria Square

The Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) Conference is coming up soon, and may interest some GreensBlog readers.

ARACY is a national non-profit organisation working to create better futures for all Australia's children and young people. 

We're right in the middle of Senate Estimates, and are slowly picking out the best bits to put up here on the website. For the uninitiated, twice each year, usually in May and November, the estimates of proposed annual expenditure of government departments and authorities are referred by the Senate to the relevant legislation committees for examination and report. At the estimates hearings, Senators may directly question Ministers and public officials not only about the details of proposed expenditure but also about the objectives, operations and efficiency of the programs for which they are responsible.

Sarah had a chat to Watto at ABC's Heywire about the proposed changes to Youth Allowance in the Federal Budget. You can read the story, 'Greens declare change needed', and listen to the audio of the interview here.

Sarah appeared on SBS's Insight program on Tuesday 19 May. The theme was 'Seeking asylum'. You can watch the video here. Sarah is in part three.