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.

Greens Leader Adam Bandt has joined Arts spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young at the Comedy Republic in Melbourne to back live arts with a pledge to 

The Greens have pledged to establish a $1billion Australian Stories Fund and impose local content quotas on the global streaming giants, to help secure the future of the Australian screen industry.

The Australian Stories Fund would invest in the infrastructure, crew training and development needs of our screen industry, ensuring a robust and sustainable local industry able to keep creating high quality Australian content and telling our stories.

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

The Greens have announced they will establish a new and fully-funded Australia Network, pushing Labor to go further in a minority government.

While responding to Labor’s announcement today of $8m to the ABC to deliver Australian content to Pacific nations, Greens Spokesperson for Communications and Media, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young:

“What we need is a new Australia Network, fully funded, engaged, and with a purpose of connecting us as a nation to our neighbours and our region.

With the federal election just months away, the Morrison Government has tried to find a quick fix for the ongoing issue of ABC funding by ending the indexation pause.

Greens Arts and Communications Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

"While the end to the funding freeze is welcomed, this short-term fix cannot undo the eight years of cuts and attacks on our national broadcaster. 

The Greens will go to the election fighting for a judicial inquiry into media regulation and ownership in Australia and will push for the inquiry in the next parliament and minority government.

Greens Spokesperson for Media and Chair of the Committee Inquiry into Media Diversity Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

"We need a judicial inquiry with the powers of a Royal Commission because politicians and political parties are too weak-kneed in the face of Murdoch’s power and influence to make and break political careers.

The Senate Inquiry into Media Diversity has today recommended that a judicial inquiry with the powers of a royal commission be established to examine whether the existing system of media regulation is fit‐for‐purpose and to investigate the concentration of media ownership in Australia.

Greens spokesperson for the Arts Senator Sarah Hanson-Young responded to the Parliament supporting amendments to a government bill in order to secure the future of the Australian film sector:

"Today the Parliament took on this arrogant Government and won. In doing so, it saved tens of thousands of jobs in the Australia screen and arts sector.

"The Government had attempted to play political games by pitting the industry against itself, but The Greens together with the opposition and cross benchers stood up and said no.

The Greens are urging the Morrison Government to listen to the live music and entertainment industry groups who are again today pleading for a government-backed insurance scheme.

Greens Arts Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young who has laws before the parliament to establish a live performance insurance guarantee said:

“The Morrison Government’s failure to heed the live performance industry’s calls and warnings about the consequences of being uninsured has left it in an incredibly perilous position heading into the festival season.

Greens Spokesperson for Media and Communications Senator Sarah Hanson-Young responded to the Morrison Government’s announcement today it will introduce new laws in relation to online trolls and defamation, calling for the legislation to be sent to a senate inquiry: 

“The Greens have been calling for greater regulation of the tech giants for a long time. There is clearly a big problem with abuse and slurs on social media.