On Saturday 13th June, a national rally is being held in most capital cities around Australia. All five Greens Senators will be speaking at or attending rallies across Australia tomorrow calling for the CPRS to be scrapped and replaced with swift action to reduce emissions, drive renewable energy and create green jobs.

Senator HANSON-YOUNG (2.14 pm) - My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Wong.

Considering that there was only one big increase in new money for South Australia in terms of water in the budget - that is, the injection of an additional $228 million to double the size of the desalination plant and very little for reviving the river - is the minister aware of comments made by the Premier of South Australia yesterday in relation to the additional funding?

Greens Senator for South Australia Sarah Hanson-Young has pointed to extra millions for Adelaide’s desalination plant and a drop in money for water reform in the Murray-Darling Basin as the weak links in South Australia’s allocation in the Federal Budget.

An extra $228 million was provided for Adelaide’s desalination plant on the agreement that it double its output from 50GL to 100GL per year, while $16.4 million over two years was cut from water reform programs for the Murray-Darling Basin.

Senator Hanson-Young -I have some brief questions around some questions that I put on notice last time. I wonder if we have any updates. I was interested in knowing whether there was a time frame on when we were likely to see a decision from the minister about the current ban on AusAID funded services providing certain family planning services and advice.

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.