Media Releases

The Real Work For Student Income Support Starts Now

Media Release | Spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young
Wednesday 17th March 2010, 1:36pm
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The Senate's agreement on Youth Allowance only marks the beginning of the campaign to achieve equality for student income support, according to Green Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.


Senator Hanson-Young, Greens Education spokesperson, says the Greens secured a $20 million taskforce in the package to look at ways of delivering income support to rural and regional areas.


"Thank goodness this legislation has finally passed through the Senate, with just 24 hours to go for the Parliament to agree without missing the cut-off for students to drop courses without paying fees,'' Senator Hanson-Young said.

Youth Allowance Compromise Is Not The Full Solution

Media Release | Spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young
Tuesday 16th March 2010, 8:06pm
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The Australian Greens welcome the agreement over Youth Allowance, but warn that it does not resolve the wider question of student income support in Australia.


Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens Education spokesperson, says that she is happy that scholarships, while reduced, will be available for students from April 1, but has declared that the Greens are committed to run a campaign for equal treatment and support for all students up to the next election.


"We're glad that this legislation is going through, rather than being blocked all the way to an election, a result that would have hurt many more students and their families,'' Senator Hanson-Young said.

SA Voters Need Answers on Water, Mr Rann

Media Release | Spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young
Tuesday 16th March 2010, 3:19pm
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The Australian Greens have called on the Rann Labor Government to come clean about the details of the prospective water deal done with upstream states before this weekend's state election, according to Green Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.


Senator Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson on the Murray Darling Basin, says she welcomes the prospect of more water coming down the river, but says that the government must release the details.


"It's always good to see more water for the river, but one has to question the timing of this announcement - luckily for Mr Rann it happens in the last week of a tight election campaign,'' Senator Hanson-Young said.

Six Months Plus Super Is the Way Forward

Media Release | Spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young
Monday 15th March 2010, 5:33pm
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The Federal Government's take-it-or-leave-it approach to its less-than-desirable 18-week paid parental leave plan will not deliver the support Australian families need, according to Green Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.


Senator Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson on the Status of Women, says the Greens have had legislation on the table since May last year to provide six months of paid parental leave, plus superannuation payments.


It remains the only piece of legislation on this issue before Parliament today.

Our Students Need an Education Ombudsman

Media Release | Spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young
Thursday 11th March 2010, 2:20pm
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The Australian Greens have moved to lock in protection for all students with legislation to provide a new national authority to handle education complaints, according to Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.


Senator Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson on Education, has today introduced the Ombudsman Amendment (Education Ombudsman) Bill 2010 into Parliament, which would establish a new office of the Education Ombudsman under the Commonwealth Ombudsman.


"We need a one-stop national authority that can resolve student complaints, whether it's in domestic education or the international education sector, '' Senator Hanson-Young said.

Families Must Come Before Politics on Parental Leave

Media Release | Spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young
Wednesday 10th March 2010, 3:20pm
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The Australian Greens have urged the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader to set aside election year politicking to help deliver proper paid parental leave, according to Green Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.


Senator Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson on the Status of Women, says it is vital that all sides of politics co-operate to ensure that there is a paid parental scheme in place before the next federal election.


"It is reassuring to see how far we have come in twelve months on paid parental leave,'' Senator Hanson-Young said.

International Education Needs Reform Now

Media Release | Spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young
Tuesday 9th March 2010, 3:40pm
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The Australian Greens have called on the Federal Government to fast-track its response to the Baird Review of International Education, according to Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.


Senator Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson on Education, says the man in charge of the review, Bruce Baird, has confirmed that there is a serious problem in the international education sector.


"It has been obvious for more than a year that the international education sector is in a dire state,'' Senator Hanson-Young said.

Greens Call for Early Senate Discussions on Parental Leave

Media Release | Spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young
Monday 8th March 2010, 2:30pm
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The Australian Greens are calling on both major parties to move swiftly to lock in the best possible result for families on paid parental leave ahead of the next Federal election, according to Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.


With the Opposition now proposing a 26-week parental scheme and the Government's plan not yet introduced, the Greens are writing to both Tony Abbott and the Prime Minister proposing tri-partisan talks ahead of this year's budget to ensure a scheme can be delivered by January 2011 at the latest.


"We don't want a situation where the Coalition and Government block each others proposal,'' said Senator Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson on the Status of Women.

Take A Stand On International Women's Day, P.M.

Media Release | Spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young
Monday 8th March 2010, 1:00pm
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It's time for the Federal Government to get serious about standing up for the rights of women, both here and overseas, according to Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.


Senator Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson for the Status of Women, says that Prime Minister Kevin Rudd should acknowledge International Women's Day today by committing to direct action to tackle some of the biggest problems facing women.


"This is a day to celebrate the work and successes of women both here in Australia and around the world, but it is also a day to acknowledge how far we still have to go to achieve real equality,'' Senator Hanson-Young said.

It's Time to Bring More Women Into Australia's Boardrooms

Media Release | Spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young
Saturday 6th March 2010, 6:30am
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The Australian Greens have committed to legislate for women to make up at least 40 per cent of board members in Australia's leading companies, according to Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.


Senator Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson on Status of Women, says the party's initiative comes in the leadup to International Women's Day on Monday.


"Latest figures show that women hold only eight per cent of board directorships, while only two per cent of ASX200 companies are chaired by women - indeed more than half of ASX200 companies have no women on their boards,'' Senator Hanson-Young said.