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.

MEET THE PRESS

6 NOVEMBER 2011

INTERVIEW WITH CHRISTINE MILNE AND IAN HANKE.

DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE CARBON TAX BILLS, THE MINING TAX, COAL SEAM GAS, THE CHOICES OF ALAN JOYCE, THE FAIR WORK ACT, THE COALITION AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS, AND UNFAIR DISMISSALS.

It is inexcusable that years of failed government policy have now led us to the deeply saddening situation where families who have been on the land for generations are selling their farms, often to overseas-owned agri-business, because they see no alternative.

The Greens will move in the Senate for a sensible sovereign fund from the resource tax to invest in Australia's people and environment.

The Greens are examining a raft of sidelined recommendations from the Henry Review to pursue in the Senate, including increasing income support for students and the unemployed, removing the Fringe Benefit Tax concession which currently encourages company car use, and introducing road congestion taxes to fund public transport.

In excellent news this morning, The Age reports that Christine Milne's amendments to the Luxury Car Tax, exempting fuel efficient vehicles from the levy, are already having an impact!

Ian Porter writes:

New Matilda published this piece today under the title: 'Be wary, we're in safe hands'.

Hobart 10 April 2008   The Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI) is to be congratulated for recognising corruption has become a serious problem in Tasmania that adversely impacts business confidence, and our reputation interstate, Greens Senator Christine Milne said today.
 
"As someone who has been raising these issues in local and national arenas for more than a decade, it is a major step forward to hear the State's peak business body give in-principle support to the establishment of an ICAC-style body in Tasmania.  Such reform is long overdue.