Greens Senator for Tasmania, Peter Whish-Wilson, provides the following comments on the 2015-16 Federal Budget.

Senator Whish-Wilson said, “This budget has put off a number of major strategic decisions that urgently need to be made to secure Tasmania’s future. It has failed to provide any vision for Tasmania and leaves key sectors of our economy underfunded.

“The Government has failed to provide certainty for the University of Tasmania, including staff and students, by retaining its commitment to fee deregulation now scheduled to start on the 1st of January, 2016.

Senator Ricky Muir has this afternoon said in the Senate he will support exemptions for heavy industry and the inclusion of electricity generation from burning native forests within the Renewable Energy Target.

"Exemptions for heavy industry and inclusion of energy generated from burning native forests in the Renewable Energy Target would be a disaster. It would do even more to destroy confidence in Australian clean energy," Greens Leader Christine Milne said.

The Australian Greens say massive cuts to research and development, passed through the Senate today by the Liberals, Nationals, Palmer United Party and Independent Nick Xenophon, is another act of intergenerational theft.

"Cutting support for research and development is a short-sighted way to balance the Budget and will help drive the country's investment in research to a 30-year low," said Greens science, research and innovation spokesperson Adam Bandt MP.

Press conference transcript: Draft management plan for Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and Abbott's attack on Medicare - Hobart 15 January 2015.

Speakers: Senator Christine Milne and Tasmanian MP Nick McKim

China's commitment to using Australia as an Antarctic gateway is welcome news for Tasmanians working in the science, research and shipping sectors, Greens senators said today.

"The Antarctic and Southern Ocean research sector is worth millions to the Tasmanian economy. China's commitment will help ensure it continues to play a strong role for years to come," Australian Greens Leader Christine Milne said.

Today, Greens Senator for Tasmania, Peter Whish-Wilson, stood with the CPSU to support their campaign to stop the Liberal government privatising the Medicare payment processing service in Hobart.

Senator Whish-Wilson said, “Before last year’s Federal election, the Liberals promised a Tasmanian Jobs strategy, but all they have delivered is the export of jobs from the state.

“The Liberals have cut local jobs from the CSIRO and the Australian Antarctic Division, and they have shed jobs from the Launceston ATO.

Dear friends,

It's with great sadness that we have to inform you of the death of a valued colleague, friend and long-term Green: Jeremy Ball.

Jeremy was tragically killed in an accident with the log-truck at Carrick that has been reported in the media over the past 24 hours.

Jeremy was a long-term member and then after 2011 a supporter of the Greens, becoming active when he returned to Launceston in 2002 after years of working and living abroad.

Amid reports that Shree Minerals' Nelson Bay River mine is under investigation for breaching its federal environmental permit, Australian Greens Leader Christine Milne says the Abbott government must not proceed with plans to hand protection powers over to the state.

It's believed the Tasmanian Government amended its permit to allow the Nelson Bay River Mine to produce 20 times more acid-producing waste rock than originally planned, but the Federal Environment Department was not notified or given a chance to model the impacts on threatened species.

28 August 2014

Tasmanian brand trashed by logging decision

“The Legislative Council has trashed Tasmania’s brand by backing the government’s move to log our high conservation value forests,” Senator Christine Milne said today.

“Many Tasmanian businesses rely on our clean, green brand – turning the state into an industrial logging playground will trash it.