The Greens will today announce key election policies, including a ‘billionaires tax’ to help fund genuinely free public schools, dental into Medicare and a job for everyone who wants one. 

With the party considering an election in November of this year still a possibility and a minority parliament the most likely outcome, Mr Bandt will push for a tax on billionaires & corporate super profits as part of dealings with a future shared power government.

The Greens are calling on the Morrison Government to provide targeted support to the arts and entertainment industry, together with the Covid Tourism Package expected to be announced this week before JobKeeper is cut off. 

Greens Spokesperson for the Arts, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“A support package for the tourism industry is welcome, but it is well overdue and should be accompanied by a continuation of JobKeeper for as long as it is necessary during the pandemic. 

In response to the NSW Government's new koala state environmental planning policy, Greens Spokesperson for the Environment Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“Letting the National Party dictate koala protection policy is like putting the fox in charge of the hen house. 

“The Berejiklian Government’s capitulation to the Nationals will drive koalas closer to extinction. Koalas are already on track to be extinct in NSW by 2050. 

“Land clearing, degradation and fragmentation is the greatest threat to koalas. It must be stopped.

I welcome the decision of the Full Federal Court in dismissing Mr Leyonjhelm’s appeal of the outcome of my defamation case against him for what the Court has described as "crass, offensive and obviously sexist" attack on my character and integrity.

“It speaks volumes that a Government MP has decided to leave parliament because of the toxic culture and sexism in politics. Is it any surprise that after the past couple weeks women in the Morrison Government are quitting?

“We need more women, from all sides and all parties in politics if we are to change the sexism in parliament.

“It saddens me that another woman is now bowing out because of the boys club in Canberra.

“I wish Nicolle Flint all the best.

The Morrison Government’s latest attempt to weaken Australia’s environmental laws completely ignores their own expert’s recommendations and will lock in the demise of our wildlife and iconic natural places, the Greens say.

Greens Environment Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“This move by the Morrison Government is a death sentence for Australia’s koalas and wildlife. 

“The Morrison Government has blatantly ignored their own expert’s recommendations and is instead taking a chainsaw to environmental protections.

The Senate has today debated new laws introduced by the Australian Greens to save our koalas.

Greens Environment Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said she will now move for a Senate Inquiry into the bill.

“The laws debated in the Senate today would stop land clearing of critical habitat and help save our koalas,” Senator Hanson-Young said.

“This legislative move is absolutely vital to protecting our national treasure from extinction.

The Morrison Government’s leaked environmental standards make a mockery of the yearlong review into environment laws by Professor Graeme Samuel and condemn Australia’s environment to more destruction, the Greens say.

Greens Environment Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“This leaked document shows the Morrison Government’s plan is for more pollution and destruction of our environment and a death sentence for Australia’s koalas and wildlife. 

The Prime Minister must take the water portfolio out of the hands of the climate-denying National Party, the Greens say, after a Productivity Commission report released today calls on governments to recognise the impact of the climate crisis on water security. 

Greens Water Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“We’ve now got economists saying what scientists have been warning for years. The Federal Government needs to start preparing a water security plan that takes climate change seriously. 

The Greens have today introduced new laws to stop land clearing of critical habitat and save our koalas.

The legislative move would prevent the Federal Environment Minister from approving new mines or developments in koala habitat.

Greens Environment Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“Koalas are a national treasure and yet the Environment Minister is not just failing to save them but she continuously signs their death warrant.

“Unless habitat clearing is stopped, koalas will soon be extinct.