National Party Minister David Littleproud has claimed the Murray-Darling Basin Plan is dead, again proving the Morrison-Joyce Government will kill Australia's biggest river system.

The National Party recklessly took water buybacks off the table in 2020, despite the scheme being crucial to restoring water flows to the river and delivering 450GL promised to South Australia.  

Labor has declared it is committed to the Plan but not to buybacks, without which, SA will be left high and dry.

“We struggle to survive in this Country, and we can’t even rest in peace,” said Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe. This comes as funeral funds at Youpla Group went into liquidation last month, leaving up to 15 000 First Nations people out of pocket for funeral expenses.

“My nan, Edna Brown, founded the Aboriginal Funeral Benefits Fund to stop First Nations people being buried as paupers in unmarked graves. That was in the 1960s. In 2022, our family members are being left in morgues while community saves for sorry business, or they face being buried as paupers! It’s devastating.”

Australian Greens Housing spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has said that a new Resolve Strategic poll has told a sorry story about the Coalition and Labor’s abandonment of young people on housing security and affordability.

67 per cent of people aged 18-34 now agree that many younger people who haven’t already bought a home will never be able to do so.

Senator Faruqi said:

On Wednesday, Greens Leader Adam Bandt and Greens spokesperson for Mining and Resources Senator Dorinda Cox will be in Karratha, WA to launch the final component of the Greens’ Tycoon Tax, which will end tax breaks for corporations undertaking offshore gas extraction in Commonwealth waters and oblige them to pay royalties on the natural resources that rightfully belong to the people of Australia.

The Greens will push the new tax in balance of power in the Senate after the next election.

On the eve of the 31st anniversary of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody handing down their recommendations, The Greens have today called for urgent end to torture and abuse in prisons and other places of detention, like police watch houses, and some aged care facilities.

The following lines are attributable to Gunnai, Gunditjmara and DjabWurrung Senator Lidia Thorpe, Greens spokesperson for Justice and First Nations:

The Greens have announced their plan for animal welfare ahead of the federal election.

Both the Coalition and Labor have ignored animal welfare over the last term of parliament, and actively supported industries that harm animals. The Greens believe we must properly care for animals and treat them with respect and compassion. We will fight to protect animals from cruelty and suffering and end harmful practices that put profit ahead of the welfare of animals.

As part of our plan, the Greens will push to:

The Greens leader, Adam Bandt, says that Anthony Albanese’s unconditional surrender to the Liberals on coal means Labor has given up on climate action, the Paris Agreement and is now aiding the real enemy with 114 new coal and gas projects.

Neither the Liberal or Labor emissions targets are in line with the science or Paris Agreement, and even their weak targets don’t take into account the 114 new coal and gas projects on the books. 

The Greens are pushing for a freeze on all new coal and gas projects.

The Greens say they would fast track a future Labor government’s ICAC bill through the Senate provided it was able to hold public hearings, act on anonymous tip-offs and investigate historical matters, including the shady dealings of the current Coalition front bench.

Lines attributable to Greens deputy leader and spokesperson on democracy Senator Larissa Waters:

“The Greens have been pushing for a national corruption watchdog for 13 years, so we welcome that Labor have said they would prioritise this in the next term of government. 

The Greens leader, Adam Bandt, has described the dirty deal done on the eve of election caretaker period between the Morrison government and NT Labor to fast-track the Beetaloo methane gas project as a climate crime.

The Beetaloo project will increase Australia’s emissions by up to 13%.

Fracking the Northern Territory is an insult to traditional owners who don’t want it to happen and a climate crime. 

The Greens have called for an end to native forest logging in addition to plantation forestry reform following the Morrison Government’s announcement today about increasing its self-reliance on wood supply. 

Quotes attributable to Greens Senator for lutruwita/Tasmania, Peter Whish-Wilson:

“It’s no surprise that the Liberal Party is announcing another taxpayer-subsidised lifeline to support the loss-making forestry industry in Tasmania prior to an election.