The Australian Greens have welcomed a fresh discussion about high speed rail in light of the proposal from Consolidated Land and Rail Australia, but warn that it's crucial that the infrastructure is built in the nation's interests, not to suit the profits of private property developers.

"Federal and state governments need to lead this cross-generational project, not just respond to the private sector," said Greens spokesperson for transport, Senator Janet Rice.

Australian Greens Leader Christine Milne and Deputy Leader Adam Bandt have said Labor is playing catch up and has failed to commit to the investment needed to get high speed rail moving.

In contrast to the $55 million announced by Labor today the Greens have committed $664 million over the forward estimates to fast tracking high speed rail by establishing a High Speed Rail Authority, securing the rail corridor and facilitating regulatory requirements and planning. The Greens have also committed an additional $570 million to an Environmental Impact Study.

The Greens have announced a plan to fast track the construction of high speed rail on the Eastern Sea board.

Australian Greens Leader Senator Christine Milne and Deputy Leader Adam Bandt MP have announced the plan at Melbourne's Southern Cross Station and Mr Bandt will outline details of the plan to a conference on high speed in Sydney on Wednesday.

As part of the agreement to support the minority Labor government, the Australian Greens secured a $20 million feasibility study into high speed rail.

Greens Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam today described Tony Abbott's vow to axe Federal funding for rail projects, including $500 million for WA, as "deliberate public transport vandalism".

"After five years, Premier Colin Barnett finally got on board with the Greens Light Rail proposal. Then the Federal Government committed half a billion dollars. Now Tony Abbott is threatening the lot.

"Perth commuters are desperate for alternatives to traffic jams and rising petrol costs. We have solutions in sight, but not if Tony Abbott is Prime Minister.

The Minister for Transport, Anthony Albanese, is preparing to sell out on high speed rail, Greens Deputy Leader Adam Bandt said today. Responding to a speech by Mr Albanese to the Sydney Institute last night, Mr Bandt said the Greens were now the only party committed to the nation building infrastructure of high speed rail.
 
"Labor is crab-walking away from high speed rail", Mr Bandt said.
 
"This is another of many good ideas that Labor can't fund because it doesn't have the guts to stand up to the big miners and fix mining tax."
 

Greens Deputy Leader Adam Bandt has released a report outlining $48 billion in benefits from a High Speed Rail network on the East Coast.

The Australian Greens Leader, Senator Christine Milne, has joined the ACT Greens as both parties have given their commitment to making high speed rail and light rail a reality.

The call comes after a week of negative signals about high speed rail coming from the NSW Government, Qantas, and the Prime Minister*.

"High speed rail exists in over 20 other countries already, and is expanding.  It is high time that Australia catches up and invests in the infrastructure we need for the 21st Century", said Senator Milne.

The Hunter and Illawarra regions could receive a strong boost from the recommendations of the Manufacturing Industry Taskforce report released today, if the federal government backs key initiatives such as a strong local content rules, a sovereign wealth fund and training and energy efficiency measures, says Senator for NSW Lee Rhiannon.

"The mining boom and high Australian dollar has helped to shatter manufacturing in the Hunter and Illawarra regions and government attention to boosting manufacturing is well overdue," Senator for NSW Lee Rhiannon said.

The federal Budget is the economic tool that underpins and enables the Government's hopes, aspirations and priorities for the nation. Unless the Budget tells a strong, clear, consistent story, people are left wondering: what does the Government stands for?

Christine Milne's Budget reply speech - A Budget for the kind of country we want to be - lays out the Greens' response to the Budget and our vision of what it could have been.