Robert Simms has been sworn in this morning as the Australian Greens' new Senator for South Australia, replacing Penny Wright who stood down for personal reasons earlier this year. Senator Simms will make his first speech to the Senate at 5pm on Tuesday 13 October.

"It's a great privilege to be able to represent my state of South Australia and carry on the good work that Penny Wright did as Senator," said Senator Simms.

"I am excited to be part of such a strong team and look forward to working closely with my new Greens colleagues.

The Greens have today called for the community to come together in the wake of the brutal shooting of police accountant Curtis Cheng outside the police headquarters in Parramatta on Friday afternoon.

“My heartfelt thoughts and condolences go out to the family and friends of Curtis Cheng and Farhad Khalil Mohammad Jabar,” said Richard Di Natale, leader of The Australian Greens.

“This is tragic event. A fifteen year old boy committing such a hateful act will have a deep impact on our national psyche.

The Greens have called on Premier Mike Baird to act on the Senate motion that sets out a path to save the Parramatta Female Factory Precinct from destructive over-development.

Greens NSW Senator said "The Senate passed the Greens motion that calls for the Parramatta Female Factory Precinct to be urgently approved for the National and World Heritage listing it so richly deserves.

Greens Senator for NSW Lee Rhiannon says the Turnbull-Nationals deal is not in the best interests of regional and rural NSW.

"This deal has been struck to protect the new Prime Minister's leadership not to assist rural communities," said Senator Rhiannon.

"Prime Minister Turnbull's plan to put the Nationals in control of water policy, to keep young people off income support for four weeks at a time and to not change Abbott's minimalist approach on climate change will make life tougher for regional and rural communities.

The Abbott government failed in their attempt to defeat a Senate motion to save the steel industry.

The motion was passed with the combined support of the Greens, Labor and crossbenchers.

"The save the steel industry motion, passed 34 to 28 votes, calls on the government to immediately refer matters related to dumped sub-cost steel to the Anti-Dumping Commission and to consider the use of World Trade Organisation emergency safeguards," Senator Rhiannon said.

"I was pleased Senators John Madigan, Kim Carr and Nick Xenophon joined me in moving this motion.

The Abbott government failed in their attempt to defeat a Senate motion to save the steel industry.

The motion was passed with the combined support of the Greens, Labor and crossbenchers.

"The save the steel industry motion, passed 34 to 28 votes, calls on the government to immediately refer matters related to dumped sub-cost steel to the Anti-Dumping Commission and to consider the use of World Trade Organisation emergency safeguards," Senator Rhiannon said.

"I was pleased Senators John Madigan, Kim Carr and Nick Xenophon joined me in moving this motion.

The Greens have expressed dismay that their Senate motion in support of Newcastle City Council's Environmentally and Socially Responsible Investment policy was voted down today by the Coalition and Labor.

Greens Senator for NSW Lee Rhiannon said: "It's a shame that federal Labor have failed to back their colleagues on Newcastle City Council in their moves to update the Council's Environmentally and Socially Responsible Investment policy.

The Abbott government will be asked to activate World Trade Organisation emergency powers to save the Port Kembla steel industry if a motion before the Australian Senate is passed.

The motion, to be debated on Thursday 10 September, has been moved by Greens NSW Senator Lee Rhiannon and Victorian independent Senator John Madigan. Full wording of the motion is below.

Greens NSW Senator Lee Rhiannon said, "We have introduced this motion as the Abbott government is dragging the chain on dealing with the crisis facing the Illawarra.