The Senate has passed an Australian Greens motion calling on the Turnbull Liberal Government to hurry up and appoint a Sex Discrimination Commissioner,  a position it has left vacant for 150 days.

"Women have been waiting on the Turnbull Liberal Government for more than 150 days now to appoint a new Sex Discrimination Commissioner," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and spokesperson for women, said.

The Senate has narrowly defeated a Turnbull Government motion opposing Greens' state and territory legislation for exclusion zones outside abortion clinics to stop anti-choice protesters intimidating women.

"It's alarming that the Senate was only just able to defeat this appalling motion from the Turnbull Government," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens spokesperson for women, said.

"Senator Canavan, who put forward the motion, has tried to pass this off as a freedom of speech issue but this is an issue of safe, accessible healthcare and women's rights. 

With Queensland medical experts saying women are travelling to other states to have abortions,  the Palaszczuk Government must get rid of our state's archaic laws that still list abortion as a crime.

Qld Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and spokesperson for women, said:

"Queensland women should not be treated as criminals for wanting control over their own bodies.

"Many Queensland women who want to have an abortion may not have the money to travel to another state where laws reflect the mainstream view that abortion is not a crime.

The Australian Greens have urged the Prime Minister and his Immigration Minister to act urgently to bring a young refugee woman allegedly raped on Nauru to Australia so she can terminate her unwanted pregnancy.

"Mr Turnbull needs to pull his Immigration Minister into line and get this woman they help and care she urgently needs," Greens Immigration spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said today.

"Abortion is illegal on Nauru and the only option this young woman has for a safe and legal termination is to be brought to Australia.

 The theme of International Women’s Day today is Make it Happen and the Greens are calling for key improvements that governments can make happen right away.

 

“While it’s frustrating that there’s still such a long way to go to achieve gender equality, there are some clear, tangible steps that we can take right away,” Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens spokesperson for women, said.

 

The Australian Greens have condemned Senator John Madigan’s unnecessary sex-selection abortion bill as a front for progressing the anti-choice agenda, debated in the Senate today.

“It’s sickening and alarming that the Abbott Government and some crossbench and Labor senators are trying to drag us back to the 1950s,” Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens spokesperson for women, said.

The Australian Greens welcome Minister Andrews’ decision not to open the World Congress of Families conference in Melbourne tomorrow.

“This is good news for everyone who stood together to oppose the Abbott Government effectively endorsing the World Congress of Families’ harmful, discriminatory, prejudice-driven campaigns,” Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens spokesperson for women, said.

The Australian Greens are calling on all politicians not to attend World Congress of Families, following more harmful repetitions of the completely discredited myth connecting abortion and breast cancer. 

“Fred Nile’s remarks, like Senator Abetz’s, are insulting, insensitive and completely untrue,” Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens spokesperson for Women, said.

“These comments are driven by anti-choice ideology rather than the science.

Responding to statements by senior Government Minister, Senator Eric Abetz, claiming a link between abortion and breast cancer, acting Greens Leader, Adam Bandt MP, said that the Minister’s comments were insulting and that he should apologise.

“Eric Abetz’s comments are an insult, not just to any woman who has suffered breast cancer or who has had an abortion, but to all women,” said acting Greens Leader, Adam Bandt MP.

“The Minister should not scare young women by peddling his dark, anti-choice ideology on national television.