Afghanistan's Brigadier-General Mohammed Zafar Khan's call for Australian troops to give their equipment to the Afghan National Army and go home is a thunderous statement being met with remarkable indifference by both Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

Bandt to force vote on Afghanistan

Greens MP Adam Bandt says he will move a motion to set a date for the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan forcing a vote on the issue.

Mr Bandt says there have been numerous ministerial statements and debates on the issue, but it is now time for the Parliament to vote on setting a date for a safe withdrawal.

The Australian Greens are proposing amendments to the watered-down mining tax which are revenue positive and the Gillard Government should ensure that the revenue from the tax is not further undermined.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown and Member for Melbourne Adam Bandt outlined the Greens' position on the MRRT, namely to protect the revenue stream from moves in Parliament to further water down the mining tax.

The Greens will also move for a debate on setting a date for a safe exit of Australian troops from Afghanistan.

“The Gillard government’s plan to host between 200 - 2500 US troops and give expanded access to USA military aircraft should be subjected to a parliamentary debate,” Australian Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown said in Canberra today.

“The Greens welcome President Obama to Australia for a visit that will be quite different to that of George W Bush,” Senator Brown said.

“But Australia should have an independent relationship with its neighbours, its own region and the world, on its own terms.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown joined John Laws on 2SM live from Canberra today to discuss the war in Afghanistan and the need to bring Australian soldiers safely home.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown spoke to reporters in Canberra today to wish the soldiers wounded in Afghanistan a speedy recovery and to call for all Australian troops to be brought home safely.

Senator Brown also answered questions about the passage yesterday of the climate bills, the proposed mining tax, and the activities of Malaysian logging company Ta Ann.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown spoke to reporters in Canberra today to wish the soldiers wounded in Afghanistan a speedy recovery and to call for all Australian troops to be brought home safely.

Senator Brown also answered questions about the passage yesterday of the climate bills, the proposed mining tax, and the activities of Malaysian logging company Ta Ann.

Greens Leader Bob Brown today joined all Australians in wishing the injured soldiers a speedy recovery and urged the Gillard government to bring Australian troops home safely from Afghanistan.

"Unlike the Government or the Opposition, the Greens continue to call for Australian Defence Force personnel in Afghanistan to be brought home safely as soon as possible. A debate will be held in both houses of parliament on 21 November and we will be strongly putting that point of view," Senator Brown said.

Citing this afternoon's Morgan poll showing 72% (up an astonishing 32%) of Australians want our troops brought home, Senator Brown said,

"It's a people's revolt against both major parties stance on Afghanistan.

"The issue must now be on the ALP national conference agenda next month. The need to heed the Greens call to bring our troops home is urgent.

"Australians don't see the failure to gets results in Afghanistan warrants the mounting death toll.