Today Senator Lee Rhiannon and Greens candidate for Wentworth Dejay Toborek launched the Greens arts policy initiative for NSW at the historic Bondi Pavilion. They were joined by Peter O'Doherty, musician with Australian band Dog Trumpet who is supporting the Greens initiative.

"The Greens have a plan not only to reverse the Coalition's deep cuts to the arts sector, but to invest a further $270.2 million over the next four years," said Senator Rhiannon.

Mandatory data retention legislation that costs over $300 million dollars to implement, and around 15 cents a day to circumvent, was due to come into effect today, but most Internet Service Providers have not received a response from the Attorney-General's Department about the plans they were required to submit, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and Communications Spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam said today.

The Abbott Government’s changes to arts funding are putting at risk iconic Tasmanian events and organisations.

A Senate inquiry into the changes was today told that Tasmania’s arts scene would be disproportionately impacted by the decision to rip over $100 million in arts funding out of the Australia Council and hand it to Arts Minister George Brandis.

“The mood of arts organisations has moved substantially from shock to anger. People want to know why this is happening and why they're being forced to cut staff, sack people or cancel touring schedules.”

“The mood is actually very bleak, not just because of the amount of money that has been shifted, but the fact that from now on, George Brandis and his little hand-picked selection committees will be able to make funding decisions about touring schedules and arts funding in general. 

Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam said today that the Abbott Government should cease using Monday night's episode of Q&A to further his government's attack on the ABC and public broadcasting.

"The discussion about the editorial decisions made by the ABC is now being wound up to hysterical levels of stridency by the Abbott Government," Senator Ludlam said today.

"The ABC has apologised and will conduct a review. That is a proper process.

The Greens have today marked George Orwell's birthday, noting his seminal work, 1984, and its considerable value to policy makers within the Abbott government.

"When Mr Orwell penned 1984, he can scarcely have imagined that all these years later it would be such a foundational inspiration for government lawmaking on privacy, anonymity and free speech," Senator Scott Ludlam said today.

The Greens have welcomed the Senate's rejection of the Federal Government's SBS advertising bill, calling it the latest in a long line of assaults against Australia's public broadcasters.

The Greens, ALP and some crossbench MPs ensured the vote was rejected 31-28.

"Prime Minister Abbott promised no cuts to SBS or the ABC, but since coming to office they're done just that and tried to effectively blackmail SBS with the threat of increased advertising or harsher cuts," Senator Scott Ludlam, Australian Greens communications spokesperson said today.

Parliament has begun debating a controversial website blocking regime at the behest of foreign rights holders and lobbyists who have collectively donated millions of dollars to the Liberal and Labor parties.

"This is a lazy and dangerous piece of legislation, and it wouldn't be happening if the Opposition hadn't gone completely missing," Senator Scott Ludlam, Australian Greens communication spokesperson said today.