16 News

Leader of the Australian Greens Dr Richard Di Natale has congratulated Sen. Larissa Waters on her return to the position of Co-Deputy Leader of the Greens, a position she vacated as a result of her resignation from the Parliament over questions of eligibility under Section 44 of the constitution.
“It’s wonderful to see Larissa resume her role as Co-Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens. Losing Larissa was a huge blow to the party and to the Parliament, so it’s wonderful to be able to welcome her back to this leadership position and put that chapter well and truly behind us.
“Larissa brings a wealth of experience to the parliamentary leadership team, as well as a long a distinguished track record as an advocate for the environment, women and transparency in Government. I’m confident that she’ll bring her unique voice to the position and that our party room will be richer for it.
“I’d like to thank Sen Rachel Siewert for all her hard work in the role, which she took up in addition to her duties as Party Whip. Rachel is a tireless advocate for Australia’s first peoples, as well as for the millions of Australians receiving Government support, and she has elevated their voices in our party room.
“I’m so honoured to be returning to the Co-Deputy leadership of the Greens, a party with the vision and commitment for a fairer and more sustainable future for all of us. I’m pleased that the women’s portfolio is now back in party leadership at a most pivotal time for women, not just in politics in Australia but across a range of issues impacting women’s equality around the world,” Sen. Waters said.
Adam Bandt MP will remain in his position as Co-Deputy Leader.
Sen. Rachel Siewert continues as Party Whip.

Australian Greens climate and energy spokesperson, Adam Bandt MP, says the Morrison government must heed Sir David Attenborough’s warning that climate change is a threat to human civilisation.
Mr Bandt also called on the government to avoid being a wrecker at the climate conference.
Attenborough’s warning came in the opening sessions of the UN global climate summit in Katowice, Poland. The representatives of the world’s countries are seeking agreement on the ‘rulebook’ that will implement the Paris Agreement to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees.
“Scott Morrison must heed Sir David Attenborough’s warning,” Mr Bandt said today.
“Human civilisation is at risk. We must take emergency action on climate change, starting with keeping coal in the ground.”
“The government and Labor’s support for the Adani coal mine flies in the face of Sir David’s warning.”
“I have seen first-hand Australia’s antics at previous climate summits, supporting loopholes to let the big polluters off the hook. Australia must stop being a wrecker in Poland.”

Greens climate change and energy spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today introduced the Coal-Fired Power Funding Prohibition Bill 2018 into the House of Representatives, which prevents the Commonwealth from providing financial assistance to coal-fired power plants. The scope of Mr Bandt’s bill is intended to be wide enough to prevent the government using the mechanisms outlined in the Underwriting new generation investments consultation paper to underwrite and provide financial support to coal-fired power stations.
“It isn’t just environmentally irresponsible to bankroll coal-fired power stations, it is economically reckless.
“The government shouldn’t be trying to shovel money to coal-fired power stations in the few months left before the election.
“Propping up aging, unreliable coal-fired power stations won’t just make climate change worse, but it will make our grid less reliable and expose the taxpayer to significant liability.
“To satisfy its coal-hugging backbench, the government is even offering to indemnify coal companies against the ‘carbon risk’ of future greenhouse policies.
“The taxpayer will be left paying for stranded assets and compensating big polluters.
“We need to urgently pass this legislation to prevent the government from signing contracts over summer to build new coal-fired power.

Despite promising before the Wentworth by-election that removing discrimination in schools was an urgent priority, the Morrison government has teamed up with Centre Alliance to ensure discrimination against LGBTQ+ students, teachers and staff in schools remains, say Greens.
“We saw an outrageous display from the Morrison government teaming up with Centre Alliance to push the discrimination-free schools bill off the agenda today. This means the parliament won’t deal with discrimination in schools until next year,” said Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens LGBTIQ+ spokesperson.
“Before the Wentworth by-election the Prime Minister promised he would remove discrimination from schools as a matter of urgency. This is yet another lie from the Prime Minister.”
“The dirty tricks displayed today demonstrate a desperate Scott Morrison’s willingness to play games with the lives of LGBTQ+ people.”
“Schools should be discrimination-free for all LGBTQ+ people – that means students, teachers and staff.”
“The Greens were ready to act today to remove discrimination against teachers as well as students, as is supported by three quarters of the Australian population. It is so disappointing that political games and dirty tricks have delayed this long overdue reform.”

Australian Greens Senator for NSW, Dr Mehreen Faruqi, has called on the Federal Government to urgently implement the recommendations  of the Senate ‘Inquiry into the management of PFAs contamination in and around Defence bases’ , which has called for compensation and a new Coordinator-General to coordinate the national response to the PFAS contamination issue.
Senator Faruqi was the Greens representative on the inquiry. The report can be found here.
Senator Faruqi said: “The Australian Greens welcome this report and although much more remains to be done, it is a really important step to resolving the long running and damaging issue of PFAS contamination. I want to thank and acknowledge community members across the country for their continued advocacy for the protection of our environment, the scarce water resources we have in Australia and the health of our people and communities.
“If the government cares about the community, if they care about our environment, they should urgently accept the recommendations of the report. They don’t have to wait for months to provide a response.
“The community has waited long enough. Communities have suffered enough. It’s time to take concrete action to help them. And it’s time concrete action is taken now.
“It should not have taken years of community campaigning for Defence to be accountable for the contamination it had created. The failure of Defence to take responsibility for this matter may have had significant health and social implications for communities. Consistent with the ‘polluter pays’ principle, Defence has an obligation for all costs associated with testing, containment, remediation, as well as compensation of affected people.
“It is worth remembering that this issue is not restricted to Defence properties. Other Federal Government properties as well as properties formerly owned by the Federal Government, such as airfields and former defence sites should be fully investigated by the Commonwealth Government and the same measures applied.
“I strongly encourage the Commonwealth Government to urgently develop a buyback program for properties where contamination is significant. The reality is that the effects of PFAS contamination are not known yet and we know that some properties will be significantly affected.  There are no options but for compensation to include buyback,” she concluded.