Claims from the Abbott and Hodgman governments that the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area is degraded are nothing but a smokescreen to increase logging, says Australian Greens Leader Christine Milne.

"I established this Senate inquiry to look at the government's proposal to slash the size of our World Heritage Area, and to test the Prime Minister's claims that the area to be excised was degraded," Senator Milne said during a break in the inquiry's public hearing in Hobart today.

The Australian Greens Leader, Senator Christine Milne, speaks about the Greens' plan for Western Australia in the lead up to the state's half-senate by-election.

The Australian Greens say Tony Abbott is trying to burn up important protections in his so-called regulation bonfire.

"When Tony Abbott has a bonfire of regulations he hides his true agenda in the smoke," Greens Leader Christine Milne said.

"The Prime Minister's rhetoric on this repeal day is all about storytelling and hiding help for his mates. Many of these changes are routine review of redundant regulations, but there are some very bitter pills.

The Australian Greens firmly support the World Commission on Protected Areas in calling on the Abbott government to stop threatening our national parks and World Heritage Areas.

“Tony Abbott’s agenda of environmental vandalism is an attack on our precious native plants, animals and ecosystems. It is a national embarrassment and the world is watching,” Australian Greens Leader Christine Milne said. 

The Australian Greens have today condemned the decision to allow cattle grazing in the Alpine National Park and announced plans to reintroduce a bill to protect our national parks.

"The writing is on the wall for environment in Australia, with Tony Abbott pushing his 19th century ‘environment is for man' attitude," said Senator Christine Milne, leader of the Australian Greens.

"Given Mr Abbott thinks we have too much protected forest, this outrageous assault on the integrity of our precious national parks will be just the start.

The Abbott government is getting way ahead of itself in trying to halt the auction of carbon units, say the Australian Greens.

Today the Environment Minister registered the Clean Energy Auction Revocation Determination 2014, which will come into effect tomorrow; that is, until it is disallowed at the Senate's first opportunity, next Monday.

"Industry should take zero notice of this political stunt from the Abbott Government," says Australian Greens Leader Senator Christine Milne.

"The Greens will move to disallow it."

The Australian Greens say today’s heatwave report from the Climate Council isn’t just another warning sign – it’s heartbreaking proof that Australia is not doing enough to tackle global warming.

“Our communities are already experiencing heatwaves at a severity that scientists didn’t expect until 2030,” said Greens Leader Senator Christine Milne.

“Heatwaves impact health and result in more deaths, also having a huge impact on transport infrastructure and agriculture.

The Senate has condemned the Abbott government's reckless attack on World Heritage forests and has called on the UNESCO World Heritage committee to reject the request to de-list 74,000 hectares of Tasmanian wilderness.

"The Senate has sent a clear message to the World Heritage committee that Australians do not support the Abbott government's pro-logging ideology," said Australian Greens Leader Senator Christine Milne.

It took a typo, but finally the Environment Minister is talking sense when it comes to the price on pollution, say the Australian Greens.

A statement issued from the office of Minister Greg Hunt reads, "Emissions figures released today show the Carbon Tax is still inflicting plenty of gain, with no environmental pain."

"This statement may have been an accident, but make no mistake, the price on pollution is working," says Australian Greens Leader Christine Milne.

Responding to reports that UNESCO considers the Abbott government's request for a boundary change to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area "unprecedented" and "exceptional", Greens Leader Christine Milne says the attack is bringing international shame to Australia.

"It's never been clearer that the pro-logging zealotry on display from Tony Abbott and Eric Abetz is embarrassing Australia," Senator Milne said.