News that the cashless welfare card will be rolled out across the Hinkler electorate next year will be incredibly distressing for members of that community that desperately do not want the card, Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said today. 

“The Government has consistently insisted the card won’t get ahead in a region where there is not community support. I have met many, many people in the Hinkler region that do not want the card, why have they been ignored? 

The Australian Greens welcome the WA State Government’s ex gratia payment and formal apology to the family of Ms Dhu.

“Although this will not bring back Ms Dhu and the family will continue to experience deep grief from her avoidable death, I hope these steps made by the McGowan Government offers some solace.

“Moves to implement a comprehensive Custody Notification Service in Western Australia are a welcome step and I agree that Aboriginal deaths in custody will dramatically reduce or stop altogether once implemented. This has been evidenced interstate.

Malcolm Turnbull urgently needs to show stronger leadership over the humanitarian disaster in Myanmar, Greens Immigration spokesperson Nick McKim says.

"This is the biggest refugee crisis in our region for decades, and Australia is failing to step up," Senator McKim said.

"Hundreds of thousands of men, women and children have been displaced, and the UN has described what is happening as ethnic cleansing."

"There is a range of obvious steps that Mr Turnbull could be taking but he is stubbornly refusing to show leadership."

Thursday, 14 September 2017

Thursday, 14 September 2017

With climate change driving increased fire risk in Australia, the Commonwealth should investigate a national remote area firefighting capacity, Greens Senator for Tasmania Nick McKim says.

"It's negligent of the Government not to even investigate a national remote area firefighting capacity despite a Senate Committee recommending it," Senator McKim said.

“This failure to respond to fire threats to Tasmania’s Wilderness World Heritage Area mirrors the Liberals’ apathy towards the risks facing the Great Barrier reef.”

The Senate has supported a motion calling on the Government to encourage the public to reach out to LGBTIQ people and enquire about their wellbeing for R U OK? Day.

“We are being told by mental health experts that the LGBTIQ community will experience negative mental health impacts during the marriage equality survey, so it is more important than ever to ask R U OK?”, Australian Greens spokesperson on Mental Health Senator Rachel Siewert said today.

I welcome the City of Moreland joining the push to change the date of Australia Day to ensure everyone is welcome, Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said today.

“It is clear that the current date for Australia Day is seen as a day of invasion for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, it is considered a day of grieving for many.

“We are kind and inclusive nation and simply moving the day to a date where everyone can celebrate this wonderful country makes sense. 

The group of Federal National MPs campaigning to apply the cashless welfare card to Newstart recipients shows a true disconnect from those in their communities struggling to get by, Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said today.

“These National MPs are sat in their offices vilifying members of the community struggling to find work, they should get out there and talk to the people they are demonising and want to restrict how they manage their money.

The Senate has agreed to strike Peter Dutton's divisive Citizenship Bill from the Senate Notice Paper if it has not been voted on within four sitting days.

"This is a big win for the many thousands of people whose lives have been put on hold in the five months since this legislation was first announced," Greens Immigration and Citizenship spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.

"These are people who are studying, working and raising families in Australia already - soon they will be able to start planning for their futures."