Stella Young was a wonderful Australian. She was an outstanding writer, comedian, activist and came to prominence as a passionate disability advocate.

She provided advocacy, support and insight that has greatly helped people with disability, their families, friends and the community.

Stella's work is a credit to her strength and intelligence. The Ramp Up website remains an unmatched resource in Australian media.

The Australian Greens call on the Prime Minister to explain why she has put all options on the table to raise revenue except the most obvious one - the mining tax.

"Julia Gillard, Wayne Swan and Penny Wong need to explain why the resources giants are being treated with kid gloves and shielded from any tax increase, while the community is being asked to foot the bill for the budget black hole," Australian Greens Leader Senator Christine Milne said today.

The Australian Greens welcome today's announcements progressing the Royal Commission into institutional child sexual abuse.

Australian Greens Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said "I reiterate my hope that this can bring some peace to shattered lives, help bring perpetrators to justice, lift the shadow off all those good people in the church striving to do good for others, and make sure churches and other organisation can never again cover-up child abuse or allow victims to be ignored.

Leader of the Australian Greens Senator Christine Milne and Greens spokesperson for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Issues, Rachel Siewert, addressed the press to speak on the constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and also on the low $2.90 increase in Newstart.

Transcript

Subjects: constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, Newstart

The Greens will vigorously defend a vision for Australia that sees us properly and fairly support each other and provide universal public health and education against Joe Hockey's vision of a dog-eat-dog world where short term profits are more important than people and planet.

"The big question I've been asking people since becoming Leader of the Greens last week is what kind of country do we want to live in?" Australian Greens Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

The Australian Greens have secured an additional five million dollars to boost childcare services around the country, including 63 centres in Tasmania as they transition to the National Quality Framework.

Greens Senator for Tasmania, Christine Milne said grants of up to $5000 will be directed to services in areas of disadvantage which can be used to hire temporary staff while permanent staff do training courses, and update their OH&S requirements or buy play materials for children which relate to
meeting the new standards.