The Senate has today voted to suspend the senate inquiry initiated by the Morrison Government through a backdoor process to attack and undermine the independence of the ABC.

Greens media and communications spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young announced after the inquiry was established last week that the Greens would move to terminate the inquiry when parliament resumed. Today a Greens and Labor motion was backed by the crossbench suspending the inquiry.

The Greens and Labor have backed new laws for the establishment of a Live Performance Insurance Guarantee in a joint Senate committee report into the legislation released today.

Greens Arts Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young who introduced the legislation in August said:

“The Greens, Labor, state and territory governments and the live performance industry all back this move which would help get shows back on the road.

“After close to two years of calls for it, an insurance guarantee for the live performance industry is well overdue.

Greens Spokesperson for Media and Deputy Chair of the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee Senator Sarah Hanson-Young commented on the establishment of a Senate Inquiry into the ABC by the government-controlled Legislation Committee:   

"This is a partisan attempt to use the Legislation Committee to undermine the independence of the public broadcaster.

"Establishing this inquiry is an abuse of process and power and the Greens will be moving to stop it when the senate resumes in a week.

Greens Transport Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young responded to the Morrison Government’s ‘Future Fuels and Vehicles Strategy’ announcement:

“The Morrison Government’s ‘Future Fuels and Vehicles Strategy’ will fail to bring affordable electric vehicles to Australia.

“To properly accelerate uptake we need targets for vehicle emissions standards and subsidies that help put EVs on the road for everyday Australians.

“Australia must also set a deadline to ban the import and sale of new polluting vehicles, just like the UK with their 2030 hard target.

Australian Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young responded to comments made today by Resources Minister Keith Pitt and the response in Glasgow to Australia's poor showing at COP26:

"Our allies around the world came to Glasgow with strong 2030 targets and a commitment to get out of coal and curb methane. The arrogant Morrison Government showed up with their plan to dig deeper into coal and gas and with absolutely no intention to take COP26 seriously.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young commenting from COP26 in Glasgow this morning local time: 

“Mr Morrison has had a disaster of a world trip - from Rome to Glasgow, he has been embarrassed and called out for his lack of trustworthiness and lack of commitment.

“Here in Glasgow Scott Morrison’s word is mud. Rather than being a respected world leader, the Prime Minister is will leave here with a bad reputation for being a blocker, a liar and sop to the fossil fuel industry.

Scott Morrison has been caught lying in his speech to world leaders at Glasgow, deliberately misrepresenting Australia’s climate targets in his major official engagement at the climate summit. 

The Greens will take their fight for strong 2030 targets and greater protection for our environment all the way to Glasgow next month, with Senator Sarah Hanson-Young announced as the party’s representative at COP 26.

Leader of the Australian Greens Adam Bandt MP said:

“If the Liberals and Labor won’t take any 2030 climate targets to Glasgow, the Greens will,” Mr Bandt said.

“Senator Sarah Hanson-Young will represent the Greens’ calls for bold cuts to emissions in this critical decade for climate action. 

Greens Environment Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young responded to the announcement the Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley has approved another new coal project, the third in a month:

“Australia’s so-called Environment Minister is at it again, approving another coal mine that will destroy the environment, endanger wildlife and pollute the climate. 

“Approving this coal mine a month out from the global climate summit in Glasgow shows a complete disregard by the Environment Minister for the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions. 

Greens Environment Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young responded to the Minister for Environment's proposal, released for public comment today, to not have recovery plans for 28 ecological communities and 157 threatened species:

“By seeking to rewrite the government’s obligations, the Minister is putting up the white flag on saving our wildlife and native plants. 

“Downgrading the level of obligation the on the Minister is downgrading the protection of our native animals and species.