The Australian Greens Leader, Senator Christine Milne, gives a speech in the Senate in support of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, and to speak against its abolition.

Almost three quarters of South Australians want Kangaroo Island to be protected from planned oil and gas drilling, according to polling data released by the Australian Greens today.

A Lonergan poll of 1582 South Australians found only 16 per cent of voters supported the Bight Petroleum proposal for oil and gas exploration in the Kangaroo Island Canyon and Pools.

South Australia's agreement for new school funding system is another brick in the wall protecting public schools from a Tony Abbott repeal, says Australian Greens spokesperson on Schools Senator Penny Wright.

"Each state that signs up makes it much harder for any Abbott government to unwind the Gonski model and rip money out of schools," Senator Wright said.

"Today's agreement between the Prime Minister and South Australian Premier is great news for all SA students and teachers.

Australian Greens Senator for South Australia says today's decision to force a proposal for oil and gas exploration off the coast of Kangaroo Island through a Federal environmental assesment is a big win for community campaigning.

Senator Wright has worked extensively with the community on this campaign and says Environment Minister Tony Burke's decision today was one step closer to recognising Kangaroo Island is too precious to lose.

The 2013 Labor Budget will do little to ease the stress on country South Australians, say Australian Greens Senators Sarah Hanson Young and Penny Wright.

"Labor has spent more time listening to mining companies, the big banks and their factions than the people in rural and regional communities," Senator Hanson-Young said.

"The Greens stood up for regional South Australia during the Murray Darling Basin debate while our colleagues in the old parties and those upstream tried to sell us down the river.

The Australian Greens have today paid tribute to Mayor Joy Baluch, a courageous advocate for the Port Augusta community.

"I met Joy on a trip to Port Augusta last year to see first-hand the strong community campaign for renewable energy," Greens Leader Senator Christine Milne said.

"A fitting tribute to her memory would be to fulfil her dream of repowering Port Augusta with solar energy."

South Australian Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said Joy was a strong, passionate leader for the Port Augusta community.

Disadvantaged Australians are being hit hardest by Family Court fee rises, according to submissions made to a Senate Inquiry chaired by Australian Greens spokesperson on legal affairs, Senator Penny Wright.

Fee increases of more than 300 per cent for divorce applications could have significant impacts on victims of domestic violence, the Inquiry has been told.

The future of the Kangaroo Island community is again in the hands of Environment Minister Tony Burke as he decides on a second application for oil and gas exploration off the Island's coast, says Senator for South Australia, Senator Penny Wright.

Senator Wright said Minister Burke should listen to community calls to reject Bight Petroleum's resubmitted application outright for failing to address previously-raised concerns.

"Minister Burke has now received over 20,000 emails calling on him to reject this proposal and recognise Kangaroo Island is too precious to lose.

Bight Petroleum’s proposal was released yesterday, leaving the Kangaroo Island community concerned about oil and gas exploration in their backyard and with only a handful of days to act, says South Australian Senator Penny Wright.

The mining company yesterday submitted a new application to conduct seismic exploration off the west coast of Kangaroo Island, following the public release of a number of documents last week.