This is a significant moment for Australia as we remember Gough Whitlam and his momentous contribution to our nation. He was Prime Minister for only three years but he swept all before him. We all mourn his passing and celebrate his great life.

He was a larger than life figure whose leadership profoundly changed the nation for the better, forever.

Mr Whitlam made us a progressive nation and put us on the global map. After decades of conservative government, in came Gough.

The Australian Greens are pushing for a comprehensive plan to strengthen Australian society and help make all Australians safer at home, announcing legislation to establish an independent national body to build social cohesion and prevent extremism. The Australian Centre for Social Cohesion (ACSC) would be tasked with overseeing the development and implementation of key preventative programs that combat social exclusion and stop young Australians from becoming radicalised.

The Greens have long recognised the economic and scientific opportunities that Tasmania’s proximity to Antarctica offer but the sector needs to be funded properly if that vision is to be realised, Australian Greens Leader Christine Milne said today.

“I welcome Dr Press's report outlining how the vision for Tasmania and Antarctica can be progressed,” Senator Milne said.

Dear friends,

It's with great sadness that we have to inform you of the death of a valued colleague, friend and long-term Green: Jeremy Ball.

Jeremy was tragically killed in an accident with the log-truck at Carrick that has been reported in the media over the past 24 hours.

Jeremy was a long-term member and then after 2011 a supporter of the Greens, becoming active when he returned to Launceston in 2002 after years of working and living abroad.

On behalf of all Australian Greens Senators who had the pleasure of working with Harry Evans during his time as Clerk of the Senate, I wish to express my sincere condolences to his family.

Harry was a fierce defender of the Senate. He was an outstanding advocate for democracy and democratic principles, and with a keen understanding of constitutional history he was not afraid to call out the excesses of executive power.

Amid reports that Shree Minerals' Nelson Bay River mine is under investigation for breaching its federal environmental permit, Australian Greens Leader Christine Milne says the Abbott government must not proceed with plans to hand protection powers over to the state.

It's believed the Tasmanian Government amended its permit to allow the Nelson Bay River Mine to produce 20 times more acid-producing waste rock than originally planned, but the Federal Environment Department was not notified or given a chance to model the impacts on threatened species.

Senator MILNE (Tasmania—Leader of the Australian Greens) (12:55): I oppose the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Bilateral Agreement Implementation) Bill, which has been put forward by the Abbott government. It is the biggest systemic assault on the environment since the time that the Commonwealth took any responsibility for environmental decisions at the time of the Franklin dam. Why do I say that?

Christine Milne press conference,
Hobart, 24 August 2014

Federal budget impact on Tasmania