The media storm over climate sceptics in the Coalition, triggered by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's Lowy Institute speech last Friday and the ABC's Four Corners program on Monday night, is bringing much needed rain for a government whose climate credentials were looking very dry.

It has very effectively framed the debate in the Government's superficial way - the choice between action and inaction - and, in so doing, allowed the Government to again escape scrutiny at a crucial moment here in Australia.

The Australian Greens welcomed confirmation today that the Rudd Government will not be removing parallel importation protection for books published in Australia, in a great victory for Australia's writers, publishers, printers and book-lovers.

The push to remove the protection came from supermarket booksellers and was opposed by the great majority of Australia's publishers, booksellers and writers. The Greens were pleased to support the campaign throughout.

By Tim Hollo

Kevin Rudd's speech to the Lowy Institute last Friday was one of the most extraordinary pieces of rhetorical hypocrisy this country has seen in recent years.

The Australian Greens will move amendments to the Resale Royalty Rights bill that is due to come before the Senate this week to ensure that visual artists receive royalties from the first resale of their work, instead of waiting as long as half a century for a second resale as they would under the Rudd Government's plan.

"This is yet another example of the Rudd Government claiming to be concerned about a problem but presenting a solution which is patently not up to the task," Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne said.

Senator MILNE (Tasmania) (4:04 PM) -I rise today to note the report of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Climate Change, Water, Environment and the Arts, Managing our coastal zone in a changing climate: the time to act is now. I note that at last we have a government committee saying what the Greens have been saying, what the scientists have been saying and what the community has been saying for decades.

The Rudd Government's reintroduction of an unchanged Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme into parliament today will be celebrated by polluters and mourned by those who want urgent action on the climate crisis, the Australian Greens said today.

"The CPRS as it stands is a recipe for failure on the climate crisis, a delaying tactic dressed up as action," Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne said.

"The Greens have 22 fully drafted amendments on the table that would create an environmentally effective and economically sensible scheme.