South Australia’s first-ever Greens Senator, Sarah Hanson-Young, vowed to put the Murray River at the top of Canberra’s agenda when she was sworn in today.

Senator Hanson-Young, 26, makes history as the youngest woman ever elected to the Federal Parliament, and is the youngest member of the current Parliament.

“It’s been a nine-month wait since the election results were declared, and I am incredibly honoured and excited to be here in the chamber today, able to put South Australia’s issues front and centre,” said Senator Hanson-Young.

The Australian Greens today outlined their vision for Australia in the new century ahead of the opening of the Balance-of-Power Senate.

Australian Greens Leader, Senator Bob Brown, said a record 1.17 million people voted Greens at the last election, and the five Greens Senators were ready to work constructively with all parties to respond to the challenges of the new century.

"Pollution, poverty, discrimination and the destruction of Australia's forests and precious environments are the legacy of the last century and decades of greed and inaction."

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has welcomed the Federal Government’s Guest Worker Pilot Scheme announced yesterday, but stated that the rights of workers must be protected.

“While it is pleasing to see the Government provide much needed assistance and training for our Pacific neighbours, especially with the injection of money back into their respective communities, we must ensure that the guest workers are not exploited,” said Senator Hanson-Young.

“Poor housing and contentious pay deductions are two issues that the Greens will be keeping a close eye on.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has said federal legislation must
be amended to allow all same-sex couples to access each other’s
superannuation, at today’s public hearing to inquire into same-sex
couples’ superannuation entitlements in Melbourne.

Paid parental leave, affordable childcare and measures to balance work and family commitments are the cornerstones of building a brighter and more prosperous future, the Greens said today.

Launching the Greens' Caring for Parents and Kids initiative in Adelaide today, Senator Rachel Siewert said, "Australians are increasingly expressing concern with the impacts that working longer hours are having on the wellbeing of their families."