The worsening situation in the Australian childcare sector, as highlighted by a national survey of centres' fees and availability, shows that the Abbott Government must increase support for centres and families, not cut it in the upcoming Federal Budget.

"Parents are being forced to pay more for childcare while waiting lists are growing across the country," the Greens' childcare spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

More than $78 million will be ripped out of South Australian universities in the next four years if the Coalition's cuts to higher education go ahead, say Australian Greens Senators for South Australia Penny Wright and Sarah Hanson Young.

The party this week launched a national campaign lobbying selected Labor MPs for their support in blocking the Coalition's plan to rip $2.3 billion out of the higher education budget.

The Australian Greens have criticised the sizeable holes in Tony Abbott’s newly-appointed Coalition government ministry following its announcement today.

“With no minister for youth or early childhood education, Australians can’t feel confident that the Coalition government is looking after them,” Greens Youth, Early Childhood Education and Childcare spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

The Australian Greens will fund 2235 new teachers in disadvantaged government schools as part of a $1 billion scheme to relieve the pressure on teachers and schools and lift Australian educational achievement.

Australian Greens leader Senator Christine Milne said as many as a third of all government schools would get an extra teacher to help reduce teacher workloads, with another $20 million a year for teacher mentoring and professional development.

The Greens are standing up for greater quality and affordability in early education and care. We are fully committed to the national quality reforms being rolled out across the country, and only the Greens have proposed a fully-costed way to back that commitment up with effective financial inve

The Greens will establish an Australian Youth Parliament to give the next generation a strong national platform and the chance to connect with the real political process.

Young people are keen to contribute to the direction of Australian politics and policy, but feel shut out and disconnected as the old parties fight amongst themselves. The next generation is switching off from decisions that affect them.

The Greens will ban junk food advertising during children's television programming, on websites aimed at children, and via smart phones.

For years public health experts have been calling for a ban on junk food advertising to our kids. They have shown that junk food companies go out of their way to target our children because they know if they can hook them young, they will have a loyal customer for life.