At a meeting with Williamtown residents today Greens NSW Senator Lee Rhiannon and Greens Paterson candidate John Brown called for the Red Zone to be redrawn in light of new international contamination standards and for the NSW Environment Protection Authority to investigate and prosecute the environmental crimes occurring at the Williamtown RAAF Base.

"The Greens are committed to working with the Williamtown community to create world class standards in dealing with the contamination crisis and assisting them to rebuild their lives," Senator Rhiannon.

Greens NSW Senator Lee Rhiannon and Greens Grayndler candidate Jim Casey have called on Labor and Liberal leaders to confirm or deny their parties have done a deal to deliver preferences to each others candidates who are currently under threat from the Greens or the Nick Xenophon team.

Greens MP Adam Bandt today confirmed that the Greens will preference Labor second in the fiver inner-city Melbourne seats of Melbourne, Batman, Wills, Higgins and Melbourne Ports.

“The Greens have made it very clear that we will not be preferencing the Liberals anywhere, yet Labor is on the verge of striking a preference deal with the Liberals,” Mr Bandt said.

“Labor would preference the Liberals ahead of Nick Xenophon candidates in some South Australian seats in return for the Liberals preferencing Labor ahead of the Greens in seats like Batman and Grayndler.”

Greens Senator for SA Robert Simms has challenged conservative Family First Senator Bob Day to a debate ahead of the July 2 election following the launch of the website www.robnotbob.com.

"The final senate seat in South Australia is likely to come down to myself or Bob Day, and the choice couldn't be starker. The climate change denying, homophobia of the Family First party versus the progressive, forward-looking agenda of the Greens," Senator Simms said.

Greens NSW Senator Lee Rhiannon has commented on Labor’s announcement of their party’s policy on PFOS and PFOA contamination.

“While it is good news that Labor has reversed its previous position and have agreed to fund voluntary blood tests for residents affected by the toxic contamination from RAAF sites, they should also offer compensation. 

Greens NSW Senator Lee Rhiannon and Greens candidate for Whitlam Tom Hunt have commented on Liberal candidate for Whitlam Dr Carolyn Currie’s decision to pull out of the election 13 days after she was declared a candidate. 

“This is a broader pattern we are noticing right across the country as we get stuck into campaigning – the huge discrepancy between what communities want and expect of their local representatives, and what Labor, Liberal and National candidates are able to promise them. 

The Greens today said the proposal from local traders in Richmond to support a supervised injecting facility for the area and not simply CCTV cameras was worthy of consideration to help deal with drug issues present in Richmond.

Greens Yarra Councillor Misha Coleman said: “We welcome this constructive proposal from local traders and believe it is worthy of very serious consideration.”

Launceston-based Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson makes the following comment on the Malcolm Turnbull visit to Launceston today.

Senator Whish-Wilson said, “There was more money invested in Tasmania in the stage-management of a press event than there was in actual funding announcements for the Tasmanian community.

Greens Cunningham candidate Cath Blakey and Greens NSW Senator Lee Rhiannon are calling on Illawarra Labor branches and MPs to support union and Greens plans to protect penalty rates through legislation. 

“Protecting penalty rates is a huge issue for young people living in the Illawarra as most rely on casual work,” Ms Blakey said. 

“The Greens plan to protect penalty rates by moving legislation in the next parliament will help provide certainty to all locals who rely on casual work.