The Australian Greens welcome the CBS acquisition of Network 10 and are warning the Government against blocking the purchase.

“CBS buying Network 10 is promising news for the future of journalism and quality programming in Australia. CBS has bucked the trend by investing in journalism, streaming services and quality programming in the US, and it would be refreshing to see that unfold here when the status quo is to slash jobs and cheap out on content.

Premier Mark McGowan should follow in the footsteps of the Labor Victorian Government and refuse to cooperate with the Turnbull Government's plan to drug test income support recipients in WA. 

"Drug testing income support recipients has been proved overseas to be an expensive and unsuccessful measure. Drug testing will demonise and isolate people struggling with drug addiction and has been overwhelmingly rejected by experts on drug and alcohol addiction", Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said today.  

Papua New Guinea's refusal to allow the men Peter Dutton is imprisoning on Manus Island to be abandoned means the government must bring them here to Australia, Greens Immigration spokesperson Nick McKim says.

"It is clear Peter Dutton and Malcolm Turnbull cannot abandon their political prisoners in Papua New Guinea, nor can they leave them in a half-demolished detention centre," Senator McKim said.

"There is only one choice - evacuate these men to Australia."

"The Liberals' offshore detention regime, fully supported by Labor, has created a humanitarian crisis."

Australian Greens Defence spokesperson, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, commented today on the worrying implications for Australia of Donald Trump’s backflip on Afghanistan.

Senator Whish-Wilson said, “We can expect that in coming days Australia will, yet again, be asked to commit more troops and more resources to the longest running conflict in our nation’s history.  Already we can see our Government preparing to capitulate - Defence Minister Marise Payne has refused to rule out sending ADF personnel back into a combat role.

Australian Greens Leader Dr Richard Di Natale and Victorian Greens Senator Janet Rice have written to Victorian councils across the state, offering to preside over citizenship ceremonies for any council that supports changing the date for Australia Day and has their capacity to hold citizenship ceremonies stripped from them by Federal Government. 

The Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters is conducting a review into political donations as part of its inquiry into the conduct of the 2016 election.

Greens Treasury spokesperson, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, has reiterated calls for investment property to be treated as a financial product in the wake of the 4 Corners report on the state of the housing market in Australia.

Senator Whish-Wilson said, “Australia’s housing market is a debt-fuelled bubble driven primarily by tax breaks to investors. This is distorting the entire economy, creating enormous financial risk, and pushing the price of housing out of the reach of young people.

Drug testing members of the community in Canterbury-Bankstown who are trying to access income support demonises and isolates the people they target and could further entrench poverty, Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said today.

“Drug testing people trying to access income support recipients is designed more to appeal to the Turnbull Government’s conservative base than actually address the issue of drug addiction.

“Overseas experience shows that it is a very costly and ineffective measure that does not reduce addiction.

Peter Dutton's denial of care and rights to refugees in his care on Nauru is an attack on their humanity, Greens Immigration spokesperson Nick McKim says.

"It is simply not acceptable for women to be denied basic health and reproductive rights just because it is politically convenient for Mr Dutton," Senator McKim said.

"These are ideological decisions that must be overturned."

"Basic human rights and freedoms are not negotiable - these women and their children must be brought to Australia immediately."

After months of community consultation, a Senate Inquiry into Strengthening Multiculturalism, has made 13 strong recommendations that will lead to a more inclusive Australia, says the Committee’s Chair, Australian Greens Leader Dr Richard Di Natale.

“Australia is a proud multicultural nation. It’s a huge part of our history and it is what makes our nation great. At a time when hateful and divisive rhetoric is rising amongst some political leaders both here and abroad, these recommendations are more important than ever, said Di Natale.