The Australian Greens have said that they will push for the $100m Federal grant required to make a solar thermal plant in Port Augusta a reality at this election.

"A solar thermal plant in Port Augusta would bring thousands of jobs to South Australia and set up our state as a world leader in renewable technology," South Australian Greens Senator, Sarah Hanson-Young said.

"If re-elected, the Greens will push for the $100m commitment required to make a solar thermal plant in Port Augusta a reality.

The Australian Greens are calling on Labor to rule out funding fossil fuel projects from the $5 billion Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility.

Qld Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and climate change spokesperson, said:

“While Labor is putting aside a fifth of the fund for tourism, it hasn’t ruled out the other $4 billion of taxpayer money going to fossil fuel projects.

Labor's Great Barrier Reef water quality policy announced today fails to deal with the real cause of coral bleaching - the mining and burning of coal - does not provide enough funding, and dodges the tough issues like a cap on water pollution.

Scientists have today reported that coral bleaching has killed more than one third of coral reefs in the central and northern regions of the Great Barrier Reef.  

Qld Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and climate change spokesperson, said:  

Greens Leader Richard Di Natale today announced RenewQld – a plan to generate $53 billion in clean-energy investment in the state over the next 15 years.

In Brisbane today to officially launch the Greens Queensland federal election campaign, Senator Di Natale said:

Following the Reserve Bank’s estimate that the major banks in Australia receive implicit public support worth up to about $4 billion a year, Greens Treasury spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today called on Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten to adopt the Greens’ proposal for a ‘Public Support Levy’ on the big four banks that would raise almost $15 billion of revenue over four years. The Customer Owned Banking Association has estimated that the support is worth $2.9 to $4.5 billion.

Greens Energy spokesperson Adam Bandt has welcomed reports that Australia’s dirtiest coal fired power station, Hazelwood, may close, but warned that Federal and State governments urgently need to put in place polices to ensure an orderly retirement of coal fired powered stations and a transition for the affected communities.

Hazelwood’s parent company Engie is reported to have said, in evidence to the French Senate, that it is reviewing the future of Hazelwood, including possible closure.

Senator Whish-Wilson provides the following comments on Greg Hunt’s visit to Robbins Island to talk up wind farm prospects.

“There have been very few Environment Ministers who have done more to damage Tasmania’s renewable investment opportunities than Greg Hunt.

“Minister Hunt oversaw the end of the carbon price, the gutting of the RET, twice voted to abolish the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and recently he cut $1 billion from the renewable energy fund ARENA.

Greens Treasury spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today said the Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Outlook released today confirms there are bleak economic conditions ahead if the government continues with its fiscal policy. Mr Bandt said the time is ripe for governments to take advantage of low interest rates and responsibly increase borrowing to fund productive infrastructure, including clean, renewable energy projects. Mr Bandt added that the lowest wages growth in at least 18 years reported since the Budget confirms that now is not the time for unaffordable and unfair income tax cuts.

The Australian Greens want to put Australia on a path to spending 4% of GDP on science and research by 2030.

Announcing the policy at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in the electorate of Melbourne, Greens Leader Senator Richard Di Natale and Science and Industry spokesperson Adam Bandt MP said the policy would make Australia a world leader in investment in research and development.

The Greens Riverina candidate and Greens NSW Senator Lee said the Greens national electric car plan will bring great benefits to people in the Riverina, particularly in terms of local jobs growth.

Under the recently announced Greens plan to build pollution free transport future, New South Wales would have over nine thousand electric vehicles in the state by 2021. 

According to the Greens plan for electric vehicles, NSW would have 9, 269 electric vehicles and 100 charging stations.