The landmark Green Economy Agreement (GEA) between Australia and Singapore may be the beginnings of an earnest move towards decarbonising the country.

Lines attributable to Greens spokesperson for Trade, Yamatji-Noongar Woman Senator Dorinda Cox:

“I welcome Australia’s new trade agreement with Singapore and look forward to the opportunity of strengthening Indigenous diplomacy between our two countries.

The Greens will today outlined plans for a $15 billion “Made in Australia” Bank and manufacturing fund - bolstering Australia’s capacity to produce components needed for the transition to clean, cheap renewable energy.

Australian Greens Senator for WA Dorinda Cox will today be joined by Greens candidate for O’Connor Giz Watson in Kalgoorlie - a region with endless sunshine and huge potential as a renewable energy superhub.

With joint state and federal funding set to run out in June, the Greens have pledged $30 million to extend the Yellow Crazy Ant Eradication Program and fund a coordinated eradication program in Townsville, protecting North Queensland’s ecological health and tourism industry from one of the world’s most invasive species.

The Greens will provide:

The Greens today are calling on the Government to ensure the UK-Australia free trade agreement upholds environmental standards, labour rights, human rights and includes a First Nations trade chapter.

Yamatji-Noongar woman and Greens spokesperson for Trade, Dorinda Cox said advancing human rights, protecting workers and our environment should be at the heart of how Australia engages in free trade agreements. 

The Greens are calling on the Morrison Government to provide targeted support to the arts and entertainment industry, together with the Covid Tourism Package expected to be announced this week before JobKeeper is cut off. 

Greens Spokesperson for the Arts, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“A support package for the tourism industry is welcome, but it is well overdue and should be accompanied by a continuation of JobKeeper for as long as it is necessary during the pandemic. 

The Morrison Government’s announcement today of $61.7m to ‘boost local tourism and preserve our environment’ is a drop in the ocean of what’s needed for a green recovery, the Greens say.

172,000 tourism businesses across Australia are just two weeks away from going bust, the Covid19 Senate Committee has heard today, prompting the Greens to call on National Cabinet to come up with an urgent plan for the tourism industry including a cash injection and national approach to border restrictions.

Greens Spokesperson for Tourism Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

The Australian Greens will move amendments to the Customs Amendment (Growing Australian Export Opportunities Across the Asia-Pacific) Bill 2019 to increase the transparency of trade negotiations, exclude Investor-State Dispute Settlements (ISDS) provisions and ensure that protecting human rights, workers and our environment is at the heart of how Australia engages with our region, and the world.

Greens Acting Leader, Adam Bandt MP, will move to amend laws designed to implement the controversial Indonesian, Peru and Hong Kong free trade agreements currently before the House of Representatives.
 
His amendments will seek to delay the implementation of the agreements until guarantees on local jobs and protections from corporations being able to sue governments are included, and until the human rights situation in Hong Kong is resolved.
 
Many Labor members and unions are up in arms about the agreements.
 
Greens Acting Leader Adam Bandt MP said:

Australian Greens Trade spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John has called on the government to protect the rights of Australian workers and the integrity of our democracy before signing off on the Indonesia, Hong Kong and Peru Free Trade Agreements which are now before Parliament.

“The Greens will be moving two straightforward sets of amendments to the implementing legislation of these FTAs to protect the rights of Australian workers and the integrity of our democracy,” Senator Steele-John said.