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. 

The Greens have slammed the Treasurer for forgetting the Arts and Entertainment Industry in the Federal Budget, an oversight that will cost more jobs and make recovery even harder.  

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

“The Arts and Entertainment Industry was one of the first to be hit by social distancing restrictions, it has suffered enormously throughout the lockdown and will be one of the last to recover.

The Morrison Government’s changes to local content rules is a missed opportunity to support Australian stories and local jobs, the Greens say.
Greens Spokesperson for Communications, Media and Arts, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“The Government has failed to deliver real reform today and has let the global steaming giants off the hook. This is a decision that if not corrected will cost local jobs and undermine Australia’s creative and cultural heritage.

Today’s report showing two trillion litres of water is missing from the Murray-Darling Basin shows the Liberal-National Government has mismanaged the River and set it on a trajectory to a slow trickle and ultimately death, the Greens say.

Greens Water Spokesperson and Senator for South Australia Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“The report by the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists today is devastating.

“Two trillion litres of water is missing. Why? Because of theft, corruption, corporate greed, floodplain harvesting, mismanagement and lack of action on climate change.

New environment laws introduced by the Morrison Government today are carbon copy of Tony Abbott’s 2014 attack, the Greens say.

Greens Spokesperson for the Environment Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“Our environment is in crisis and the only plan the PM and Environment Minister can come up with is to copy climate-denier Tony Abbott’s homework.

“These new laws take a chainsaw to environmental protections. They will make it easier for mining companies and big developers to get approval for projects that will destroy the environment and harm our native animals.

The press freedom changes recommended by the Parliament’s Intelligence Committee do not go far enough to protect journalists, the Greens say.

Chair of the Senate’s Inquiry into Press Freedoms, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

"The Parliament's secret Intelligence and Security Committee has failed to protect journalists, democracy and the public's right to know what the government is doing in their name.

“Journalism remains a crime and journalists can still be jailed under this proposal.

The Greens will tomorrow move to block the Morrison Government from rushing changes to environment laws through the Senate, with the so-called fast-track laws being introduced into the Parliament in the morning.

Greens Spokesperson for the Environment Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“Tomorrow the Morrison Government is bringing in changes that will weaken our environment laws.

“This will make it easier for big miners and developers to get approval and put our environment and wildlife at risk.

The Greens have called on the Morrison Government to rule out lifting a ban on the importation of exotic parrot species into Australia.

Greens Environment Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“In the middle of a global pandemic caused by a zoonotic disease, the Federal Government should be banning the trade of wildlife, not making it easier.

“The science is well established on the link between wildlife consumption and the transfer of zoonotic diseases to humans.

172,000 tourism businesses across Australia are just two weeks away from going bust, the Covid19 Senate Committee has heard today, prompting the Greens to call on National Cabinet to come up with an urgent plan for the tourism industry including a cash injection and national approach to border restrictions.

Greens Spokesperson for Tourism Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

The Secretary to the Prime Minister has today told the Senate’s Covid Committee that money previously promised to help the arts & entertainment industry won’t flow until after restrictions are lifted.
Greens Spokesperson for the Arts Senator Sarah Hanson-Young pressed the Secretary on when money will actually flow to the arts and entertainment industry given $250m in funding was announced almost seven weeks ago, after a three month wait for an industry-specific package.