The Australian Greens were saddened to hear today that the Government is removing an essential part of Australian legislation, designed to reunite refugees with their families, and have renewed their calls for Minister Bowen to reveal the entirety of contracts covering service providers at the Nauru and Manus Island detention centres.

A bill for marriage equality, which is supported by the majority of Australians, was voted down in the House of Representatives today.

“Despite the overwhelming community support for marriage equality Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott continue to stand in the way of reform,” Greens human rights spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said today.

“The majority of Australians support marriage equality, but today’s ‘no’ vote in the lower house has shown that the Australian parliament is failing the Australian people.

The senate has backed a Greens motion, calling on the government to release documents detailing the contractual obligations of companies trusted to operate the detention centre on Nauru.

“This is a crucial step towards the clear and open operation of detention facilities on Nauru,” Greens' immigration spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said after moving the motion today.

Amidst reports that the first plane load of refugees will leave for Nauru later today, the Government has refused to explain its use of force protocols for executing the transfers and appears to have disregarded the Nauru government's specific condition that force not be used against refugees.

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young requested information about use of force in the Senate question time today from Minister Lundy.

The Australian Greens today condemned the passing of the Nauru designation instrument as the Government and Coalition voted down Greens amendments that would have limited the harm caused to refugees by the Gillard government's new Pacific ‘Solution'.

"Labor and the Coalition have given the green light to dump children, unaccompanied minors and pregnant women in prison camps on Nauru indefinitely with no protections, against the expert advice of humanitarian organisations including the UN" said Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.

The Greens predict a mental health crisis and a return to the horrors of the Pacific Solution as the Government's designation for Nauru contains no protections or welfare standards.

"It is a sad day when we see the Labor Party moving to dump vulnerable refugees, including children, on an island prison with no time limit on their detention or proper safeguards to care for them.

The Australian Greens today announced that they will introduce a bill in the Senate to establish an independent panel of expert physicians to oversee the health and mental health of asylum seekers and refugees in indefinite offshore detention.

"The Expert Health Care Panel proposed by the Greens will add some humanity to an otherwise inhumane policy" said Greens' immigration spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.

The Australian Greens today called on the Government to clarify the terms agreed with PNG on the duration of offshore detention of refugees and confirm whether multinational engineering company Transfield Services is contracted to operate the offshore facilities.

"The Prime Minister must clarify how long vulnerable refugees will be dumped offshore - indefinitely is not an option' said Greens' immigration spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young today.