Stopping network rorting requires rule change to reduce rate of return: Bandt

Greens climate change and energy spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today backed The Grattan Institute’s call to reduce the ‘regulated asset base’ of our electricity networks, which echoes The Greens’ call to reduce the guaranteed rate of return offered to networks to a figure that is, or is close to, the government bond level.

“There’s no justification for making consumers subsidise investment that is essentially risk-free,” said Mr Bandt.

It is a sad day for the WA Goldfields region, with the start today of the rollout of the cashless welfare card, said Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert.

“Thanks to the Government and the Nick Xenophon Team, today letters are being sent in the Goldfields region informing residents that they will be put onto the paternalistic cashless welfare card. 

“We Greens fought hard to stop the cashless welfare card trials being expanded, and although we managed to stave off a site in Queensland, my home state of WA has become the home of another trial site. 

The Australian Greens will continue to fight the Liberal Government’s harsh university cuts by opposing the Higher Education Support Legislation Amendment (Student Loan Sustainability Bill 2018) being debated in the House today.

“This bill seeks to lower the HECS/HELP repayment threshold, forcing students to pay more on lower salaries when they graduate, making it harder for them to get ahead in the early stages of their careers,” Greens higher education spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

“The Queensland Greens achieved their highest state vote on record, won their first state seat and a 12 percent swing against the sitting Labor Deputy Premier in the state election in 2017”, says Senator Bartlett.

“In the Brisbane seats of McConnel and Greenslopes we achieved a 7 percent swing.

The Queensland Greens are today announcing Senator Andrew Bartlett as the party's candidate for the seat of Brisbane at the next federal election.

“The Queensland Greens achieved their highest state vote on record, won their first state seat and a 12 percent swing against the sitting Labor Deputy Premier in the state election in 2017”, says Senator Bartlett.

“In the Brisbane seats of McConnel and Greenslopes we achieved a 7 percent swing.

“My lower house campaign will build on that momentum and make sure we keep our Senate seat.

The Australian Greens have slammed the Catholic Education Commission’s continued bastardisation of Gonski, following new Fairfax reports it is keeping poor schools poor. 

“The Catholic sector argues it doesn’t get enough money, but happily continues to overfund rich schools at the expense of poorer ones,” Greens education spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said. 

Thursday, 22 March 2018

The Australian Greens have called on the government to acknowledge the data environment has changed significantly in the last 18 years and repeal section 7c of the Privacy Act, amid concerns around privacy and the integrity of Australian elections.

Yesterday, both the government and opposition voted down a Greens motion condemning Cambridge Analytica, and calling for a review of privacy regulations in Australia including the removal of absolute exemptions in the privacy act for politicians and political parties.

The Senate has backed an Australian Greens motion rejecting any moves by the Federal or SA Liberal Government to weaken South Australia’s position as a leader in renewable energy. The Senate also rejected dismantling SA’s strong renewable energy target.

“If Malcolm Turnbull and Steven Marshall think they can start tearing down South Australia’s strong renewable energy industry, they can think again,” Greens Senator for South Australia Sarah Hanson-Young said.

MEDIA RELEASE - 22 March 2018

Senate supports national homelessness action plan

Today the Senate has supported a Greens/ALP motion calling on the government to implement a national homelessness action plan, and supporting the launch of the Everybody’s Home campaign.

Senator Lee Rhiannon, Greens spokesperson for Housing congratulated the 26 organisations who have formed the campaign.

The Greens stand with students around the country protesting against the Government’s cruel $2.2 billion worth of university cuts, as the Government prepares to push through $65 billion of tax cuts to big business through the Senate today.

“The Government’s $65 billion worth of tax cuts to big businesses are being brought to the Senate today, while the Government takes an axe to university funding,” Greens higher education spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.