The Australian Greens remain deeply concerned at the recent crackdown on dissent in Iran, with official reports of at least 22 protesters killed and more than 1,000 Iranians detained.

Lines attributable to Greens leader in the senate and spokesperson on women Senator Larissa Waters

The Greens have today announced that in the balance of power after the next election, they will push to boldly reform our defence force to ensure a peace-focused approach is prioritised.

This announcement coincides with the 20th Anniversary of the beginning of the invasion of Afghanistan, Operational Detachment A574, on 19th October 2001.

New polling released today shows 87% of Australians are supportive of The Greens’ calls to change how Australia goes to war. 

The poll of 1500 people, commissioned by Mike Smith, a journalist, former Howard Government adviser, and supporter of Australians For War Powers Reform, found that support for war powers reform has jumped 4% in less than a year. 

Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John, Peace Spokesperson said:

Greens bring on a bill to increase ADF transparency, scrutiny, and ensure a vote of both houses of parliament would be needed for the ADF to engage in any future wars.   

The Australian Greens War Powers Reform Bill will be before the Senate on Monday. This bill would mean that to deploy the ADF overseas there would need to be a vote of both houses of Parliament.

Australia must urgently sign and ratify the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons now that it has become international law, with the 50th nation - Honduras - officially ratifying the treaty at a ceremony over the weekend.

The Australian Greens have welcomed the news that the Treaty will officially come into effect on the 22nd January 2021.

"This is an historic day in the ongoing campaign for peace, and one that should be celebrated," Steele-John said.