Queensland Greens Senator and spokesperson for gambling, Larissa Waters, said reports today that Queenslanders lost on average, a record-breaking $7 million a day in August 2018, shows the urgent need to ban political donations by the gambling industry.

“While the greedy gambling industry sits in the back pocket of the major political parties there will never be any real action to keep the community safe from predatory pokies,” Senator Waters said.

“There must be urgent action to curb these enormous losses and harm caused by poker machines.

The Greens will tomorrow move an order for production of documents motion in the Senate, demanding the government finally release the Ruddock Review.

“Scott Morrison is trying to dismantle anti-discrimination law for the benefit of fundamentalists and extremists,” Greens Justice spokesperson Nick McKim said.

“We need to see the Ruddock Review so the Australian people can see what he has up his sleeve.”

“This has been a secretive process from start to finish. Enough is enough.”

Dutton's 'papers please' legislation is yet another unecessary attack on fundamental liberties, Greens Justice spokesperson Nick McKim says.

“Peter Dutton is attacking the basic rights of every Australian to distract from the multiple scandals he’s involved in,” Senator McKim said.

"Every time the government needs a distraction, they play the national security card and Labor falls for it every time."

“Dutton has consistently shown that he cannot be trusted with the massive law enforcement powers that are at his disposal.”

Australian Greens Senator Larissa Waters is returning to federal Parliament following the confirmation of her appointment as a Senator for Queensland by the Queensland State Parliament. 

Today’s reappointment filled the vacancy created by Andrew Bartlett, who stepped down from the Senate role he filled after Sen. Waters resigned over section 44, to contest the lower house seat of Brisbane at the next federal election. 

Senator Waters will be the first section 44'd Senator to return to the seat to which she was originally elected.

The increased use of the Defence Force on Australian streets is deeply concerning, Australian Greens Justice spokesperson Nick McKim says.

“Legislation to make it easier to call out the Defence Force is a worrying and dangerous development,” Senator McKim said.

“Yet again, the Government has introduced major national security legislation without demonstrating the need or making the case as to how it would make Australians safer.”

“This is a serious and fundamental change to domestic policing arrangements, and to the way security forces interact with the public.”

The foreign influence and espionage legislation that is being rushed through Parliament will have serious impacts on people’s right to protest and journalism, Greens Justice Spokesperson Nick McKim says.

“We are seeing rights, freedoms and liberties in this country ripped away before our very eyes,” Senator McKim said.

“This legislation will criminalise a wide range of peaceful protests and public interest journalism.”

“It will be a significant hindrance of freedom of speech and assembly, and nothing less than the Liberals trying to crack down on dissenting voices.”

Labor and the Liberals have again stitched up a cosy deal to reduce people’s basic rights and freedoms, Greens Justice spokesperson Nick McKim says.

“The foreign influence laws, even as amended, will impact on people’s freedom of speech and freedom of association,” Senator McKim said.

“It is yet another step down the dangerous path towards authoritarianism.”

“While we certainly need to guard against hostile foreign influence and interference, the old parties have rushed into a cosy deal which predictably gets the balance wrong.”

Delays in the Family Court system should be addressed by more funding for the courts, legal aid and community legal centres, Greens Justice spokesperson Nick McKim says.

“Families should have their cases resolved quickly and compassionately,” Senator McKim said.

“Unfortunately that is not happening because of overstretched courts, community legal centres and legal aid.”

“The Liberals urgently need to invest in these areas to help families in crisis move on and resolve their cases.”

Peter Dutton’s plans to demand documents from people at airports without justification must be resisted, Greens Justice spokesperson Nick McKim says.

“People should be free to live without arbitrary harassment and being forced to carry ID wherever they go,” Senator McKim said.

“Demanding people produce documents on the spot is a hallmark of police states.”

“This is the slow march of authoritarianism. It starts in airports – how long until it’s random checks on the streets or in people’s homes?”

The Greens have noted today’s poll showing nearly 80% of Austra