In response to the release of the National Litter Index by Keep Australia Beautiful and comments by Tasmanian Environment Minister Matthew Groom, Australian Greens Senator for Tasmania Peter Whish-Wilson made the following comments:

"Keep Australia Beautiful is funded by the beverage industry who are opposed to effective recycling initiatives such as a container deposit reward scheme. Their litter index methodology is fundamentally flawed and doesn't accurately represent the litter problem.

The Australian Senate has passed a Greens' motion calling on the NSW government to cease selling public housing in the historic inner Sydney suburb of Millers Point.

"This is a small but important victory for the Miller Points residents and their supporters who have been campaigning to save 293 public housing properties and to stop the eviction of 400 tenants from their homes slated for private sale," Greens NSW Senator said.

Victoria, South Australia & NSW need an economic stimulus package to create jobs and transition to a clean economy, Greens Deputy Leader and industry spokesperson, Adam Bandt, said today.

Mr Bandt today released ‘Saving south-east Australia', a fully-funded plan to build 77,500 new houses in south-eastern Australia, fast-track high-speed rail, provide tax relief to small business and manufacturing and boost research and innovation spending.

While buying a first home is now out of reach for many, the Abbott Government has axed the key housing advisory body and is washing its hands of all responsibility for the warped state of the Australian housing market.

Greens housing spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam said recently released ABS figures showed potential first home owners were being locked out of the market, even as the Government moved to abolish the National Housing Supply Council.