Responding to the release of the Second Water for the Environment Special Account (WESA) Report, Greens Spokesperson for the Environment and Water, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“This Report bells the cat – the Liberal-National Party have spent a decade ripping off both the taxpayer and the environment, failing to deliver water to the River and instead funnelling billions of dollars into bogus projects. 

The Greens are urging the Albanese Government to stop approving new mines and developments in threatened species habitat to halt extinction and to establish a ‘climate trigger’ to assess the emissions of polluting projects.

The Greens’ push coincides with the long-awaited release of the State of the Environment Report. 

Greens Environment Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“This Report is a devastating assessment of the state of Australia’s environment. It shows a litany of environmental wreckage fuelled by climate change and years of denial and neglect. 

The Federal Environment Minister must rule out approving the 27 new coal projects set to come across her desk according to analysis by the Sunrise Project, the Greens say.

Greens Environment Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“Approving new coal and gas mines that pollute the environment and make climate change worse is a climate crime.

"The Environment Minister needs to stare down the fossil fuel lobby and take a stand for our environment. 

The Federal Court bid by the Australian Conservation Foundation to stop Woodside Energy’s Scarborough gas project until its impact on the Great Barrier Reef is assessed, highlights the need for a climate trigger to assess the impact of polluting projects, the Greens say.

Greens Environment Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

"We must stop making climate change worse and that means we stop making pollution worse. Yet environmental approvals don't even consider the impact of a polluting mine or development on the climate. 

The Australian Greens Leader, Adam Bandt, has announced the party’s updated portfolio allocation for the upcoming 47th Parliament, ahead of the first sittings in July.

Presented to yesterday evening’s Party Room, the new allocation gives newly elected MPs and Senators the power to progress the issues they were elected to advance, while recognising the years of experience behind the Greens existing portfolio holders.

SA Greens Senator and Spokesperson for Environment and Water, Sarah Hanson-Young has called on the Albanese Government to appoint a Water Minister from South Australia in Labor's new Cabinet. 

Senator Hanson-Young said:

"I have a new found hope for our Murray River now that the National Party's reign over the water portfolio is finally over. 

"But while the Barnaby Joyce and the Nats are no longer in charge, the water wars between the Basin states are set to continue.

The vast majority of voters believe stable funding should be set in law, new polling commissioned by the Australian Greens shows.

Only nine per cent of voters oppose ABC funding being in law.

In balance of power, the Greens will push for funding to the ABC to be legislated and out of the hands of politicians and the minister of the day.

The poll by Lonergan surveyed 1017 South Australian voters between the 11th and 13th of May 2022.

Greens communications and media spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

The Australian Greens will move in the next parliament to establish an Independent Debates Commission to oversee live television election debates, with last night's leaders' debate once again proving to be a farce.

Greens spokesperson for media and communications Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

"Last night's debate was woeful and a disservice to voters.

"Those of us who suffered through it watched two grown men - so-called leaders - shouting at each other, interrupting, smirking and aggressively talking over the top of others including the female moderator.

The Australian Greens say alarm bells are ringing over reports NSW will continue to allow the clearing of koala habitat under new rules for private landowners. 

Greens spokesperson for the environment, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, said outlawing the clearing of koala habitat with zero exceptions is the only way to save our iconic species.

“You can’t save koalas while continuing to wreck their homes. Unless we take urgent action to end clearing of critical habitat, they will be extinct in NSW by 2050.