The Australian Greens have backed the Australian Conservation Foundation's suggestion for an independent scientific panel to scrutinise the figures used in the Murray Darling Basin Authority's forthcoming draft plan.

"We are very concerned to learn from news reports that the draft plan will recommend 2,800 gigalitres be allocated to the environment each year," Greens' water and Murray Darling spokesperson, Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young, said today.

The Australian Greens at their national conference on Sunday responded to the plight of Tibet by passing a resolution that recognised self-determination for Tibetan peoples and condemned the ongoing repression of Tibetans by the Chinese government.

"The old parties may go on ignoring Tibetan people, but the Greens are again using their voices to highlight Tibetan peoples' rights to their traditional homelands and to spiritual and political expression," Greens' spokesperson for Tibet, Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young, said today.

The Australian Greens agree with professional bodies the Law Council of Australia, Law Institute of Victoria and Victoria Legal Aid which have all expressed concern proposed amendments to the Migration Act.

"We're concerned by the retrospective nature of the amendments," Greens' immigration spokesperson, Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young, said today.

"This bill will not catch the kingpins who are organizing the people smuggling syndicates, rather it's about the pretence of government taking action.

Sarah was a guest speaker at the Australian Water Assocation's 2nd annual national water leadership summit in Canberra this morning, 03/11/11.

She explained what the Greens are doing to ensure the future of water supplies in Australia, particularly the Murray-Darling basin system.

The Australian Greens say they are disappointed but not surprised that Labor and the Coalition united to vote down a motion about deteriorating human rights conditions in Tibet.

"Since March this year at least four monks and one nun have taken their lives by self-immolation in acts of protest to highlight abuses against Tibetan people," Greens' Tibet spokesperson, Sen. Hanson-Young, said today.

"Our Senate motion urged the Australian government to raise these matters with its Chinese counterpart, but the old parties declined to back it.

Senator HANSON-YOUNG: I move the motion as amended:

Following a request from the Senate's Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, the Commonwealth Ombudsman has released extensive documentation about the Ombudsman's role, activities and outcomes, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown and Immigration spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young said today.

The Australian Greens say reports that the Murray Darling Basin Authority's forthcoming draft plan will include a minimum 2,800 gigalitres in sustainable diversion limits shows there will not be enough water to save the system.

"It's becoming increasingly clear the draft plan won't contain the bare minimum 4,000 GL scientists say is needed to ensure the river survives," Greens' Murray Darling Basin and water spokesperson, Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young, said today.

Greens' Senator for South Australia Sarah Hanson-Young has won Senate support for a motion calling on the ABC to maintain its broadcast of SANFL games.

The motion won support from all parties and was co-sponsored by Senators Penny Wright (Greens), Nick Xenophon (Independent), Anne McEwen (Labor) and Simon Birmingham (Liberal). See full text below.

South Australian National Football League

Senator HANSON-YOUNG (South Australia) (13:15): The matter I rise to speak on today is one of great importance to my home state of South Australia. As people here would know, I am not only a proud South Australian but also a proud football supporter. Despite the fact that my team, the Double Blues-Sturt-is at the bottom of the SANFL ladder, it is all right; we still have the best ground in the league in the heart of Unley.