Commenting on Fairfax's announcement that it is moving to significantly downsize its regional news operations in the Hunter, Greens NSW Senator Lee Rhiannon said:

"This decision by Fairfax is another blow to regional news reporting which is already under funded and under resourced.

"My thoughts are with all the staff and their families in the Hunter who were briefed about the threatened job cuts today.

"I fully support industrial action taken by Fairfax staff to protest against job losses and stand in solidarity with staff who have taken strike action today.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague has found that the arrest and detention of Greenpeace’s Arctic Sunrise crew, including Tasmanian Colin Russell, for attempting to scale a drilling platform in the Arctic, was illegal.

Nick McKim has been sworn in this morning as the Australian Greens' new Senator for Tasmania, replacing former leader Christine Milne.

"I'm honoured and excited to have been sworn in today as the Greens' new Senator for Tasmania," said Senator McKim.

"I become a Senator at a tough time for our country, with a dysfunctional government that is governing for itself and not for the Australian people, but a really exciting time for the Greens.

Former Tasmanian Greens MP and leader Nick McKim says he is honoured and excited to have been confirmed today as the Greens' new Senator for Tasmania.

"I become a Senator at a tough time for our country, with a dysfunctional government that is governing for itself and not for the Australian people," Senator McKim said.

"However, this is a really exciting time for the Greens and I can't wait to join our strong team in Canberra to get stuck into my new role.

The Australian Greens are pleased to announce that former Tasmanian Greens Leader Nick McKim has been elected by a ballot of members to become the next Greens Senator for Tasmania. Mr McKim will fill a casual vacancy in the Senate, created by the resignation of Christine Milne.

“I want to thank the Tasmanian Greens members for giving me this honour and I will do everything I can to repay the faith they have put in me,” McKim said. “Replacing someone of Christine’s calibre will be a huge challenge, but one that I’m really looking forward to.”

Australian Greens Senator for Tasmania, Peter Whish-Wilson, enthusiastically welcomes the pre-selection of Nick McKim for the impending Senate vacancy made by the imminent retirement of Senator Christine Milne.