The Australian Greens welcome the release of the National Food Plan Green Paper.

"In the face of the impending global food security crisis, the Greens identified the need and called for the government to develop a National Food Security Plan two years ago during the 2010 election campaign."  Senator Christine Milne said.

"We will be scrutinising the green paper released today with great interest."

Australian Greens Leader Christine Milne held a press conference to discuss the most recent developments on the issue of asylum seekers, mental health and Sundrop farm.

Reforming the excise treatment of beer from microbreweries, long lobbied for by the Australian real Craft Breweries Association and the Greens, is a good start to supporting the growth of a sustainable industry creating great regional jobs.

The production cap in the definition of microbrewery and the low excise rebate threshold meant that the excise scheme had been crippling the growth of the industry.

I came in here to talk about the fact that 2012 is the Year of the Farmer in Australia. It is an incredibly important year in a global context because it gives us an opportunity as a nation to reflect on the role of the farmer, the role of agriculture, the role of food policy and to get it right for this nation.

The Liberal, National and Labor parties today failed to act on their own words in voting down a motion that calls on the government to direct the ACCC and Productivity Commission to take the first steps in reining in the Coles Woolworths supermarket duopoly.

"This motion, to implement the findings of a unanimous 2010 Senate Committee report, would have been an important step in reining in the Coles Woolworths duopoly, which is unfair to both consumers and producers, and the Greens will make it a major campaign," Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

A motion to be tabled today by the Australian Greens gives the government and opposition parties an opportunity to move from rhetoric to action to rein in the Coles Woolworths supermarket duopoly.

"Labor, Liberal and Nationals MPs regularly talk about how the Coles Woolworths duopoly is unfair to both consumers and producers, but they won't take the first steps to rein it in," Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

Christine Milne's press conference today discussing why Tony Abbott's major speech today needs to be judged by the standards of the UN report on sustainable economies, as well as Kevin Rudd's hypocrisy in signing onto it while campaigning for more coal; calling on Coles to guarantee fair farm-gate prices balanced against the need for cheap fresh fruit and vegetables; and discussing Gunns and Ta Ann in Tasmania.

The Australian Greens today called on Coles to make clear how its price agreement with farmers will ensure that farmers can be profitable and stay productive on the land.

"If Australia is to remain a country where farmers can earn a decent living, stay on the land and continue to feed us, we need to balance the needs of consumers for cheaper fresh food with the need for fair prices for farmers," Australian Greens Acting Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.