Senate Standing Committee on Economics - Budget Estimates 4 - 6 June 2013

Question: BET 12

Senator LUDLAM asked:

The Abbott Government is degenerating into extremism and harebrained schemes, the Greens warned today after the revelation the Coalition was considering privatising Australia Post and student debt.

Greens communications spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam said the Government should rule out privatising Australia Post.

"Millions of Australians rely on Australia Post for an essential service - particularly with the now vast online retail sector. Privatisation will see corners cut and costs raised," said Senator Ludlam.

The public interest must come first in the review of the NBN, the Greens said today.

Greens communications spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam said that telecommunications users, advocacy groups and industry must be consulted and the review of the NBN made open and accountable to the public.

"Malcolm Turnbull has purged the board and might seek to remake the NBN in his own image, but the NBN is public infrastructure paid for by the Australian people - and the public have a right to know what is happening and to make their voices heard.

On the eve of the election, the Coalition has unleashed a national internet filter more expansive in scope than the Rudd Government's defeated scheme.

"Tony Abbott has actually proposed that anyone who wants to access uncensored online content will have to put themselves on a watch list by opting out of the filter," said Greens Senator Scott Ludlam.

Kevin Rudd's "Ask Me Anything" on Reddit failed to live up to its name, with the Prime Minister ignoring questions about PRISM and surveillance.

"Reddit forums generate more questions than can be answered, but Mr Rudd ignored the highest ranking questions about large-scale warrantless surveillance," said Senator Scott Ludlam, Australian Greens communications spokesperson.

In light of the PRISM scandal, the Australian Greens will announce a package of protective measures to address ongoing surveillance overreach today in a trans-Tasman online forum.

"Edward Snowden has revealed that widespread, warrantless and illegal surveillance is occurring,"said Australian Greens communications spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam.

"Initial government and corporation denial has since been exposed as lies, perjury and obfuscation while the surveillance simply continues.

The Greens believe that Private First Class Bradley Manning's trial and sentence sets very dangerous precedents for whistleblowers, journalists, publishers and democracy itself. 

"After more than three years in prison, initially in an animal cage and sometimes stripped naked, Bradley Manning has been sentenced for 35 years (with 1294 days credit) for telling the truth about dirty wars," said Senator Scott Ludlam, Australian Greens Communications spokesperson.

Today on Perth community radio station RTR FM, the Australian Greens launched a $27million package to support our independent and diverse community media sector.

"Media diversity is vital to the health of our democracy and in this country media diversity is in retreat and community broadcasting provides a vital voice for local people and issues," said Senator Scott Ludlam.

The Greens are proud supporters of community radio and TV, upon which millions of Australian rely: each month, 10 million Australians enjoy community radio and 3.7 million watch community TV.

Our Support Community Media plan will invest an additional $27m in our community broadcasters so they can provide more skills, training, equipment and Australian content.

The Australian Greens support the building of a Fibre to the Home National Broadband Network because we know the NBN will create enormous opportunities for Australia's future. The NBN needs to be public, transparent, fast and unfiltered.

Greens have worked to improve the NBN at every step of planning and legislation that preceded fibre roll out.