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.

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 investment.

Polling commissioned by the Australian Greens* has shown that South Australians want to see a proper Paid Parental Scheme introduced, with 26 weeks of full wage support for mothers and an additional two weeks of support for fathers.

“South Australians want to see mothers and families supported with a proper paid parental leave scheme,” the Greens’ early childhood spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

Revelations today that the Coalition’s company tax levy associated with its Paid Parental Leave scheme will not create franking credits, resulting in a hit on mum and dad investors, will be a shock to many Liberals.

The Greens will move to amend the Coalition’s PPL legislation to ensure the levy creates tax credits and investors are fully protected.

The childcare sector is facing a critical lack of available places, with parents facing an uphill battle just to get their children into care.

Today the Greens’ have announced a capital grants fund that would see $200 million rolled out to community and not-for-profit centres over four years, increasing the number of available places.

“Families from around the country are struggling to find the affordable, flexible childcare that they need,” the Greens’ childcare spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said today.

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.

The Australian Greens have released their fully costed paid parental leave scheme today which is designed to support Australian families and help women stay in the workforce.

Read the full plan: Balancing Work and Family, Better Paid Parental Leave.

"Labor's scheme scrapes together the bare minimum without superannuation whilst Tony Abbott's plan is inequitable," Australian Greens Leader Senator Christine Milne said.