With the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook due soon, the Greens urge the government to consider seriously its sensible proposals to raise government revenue, and abandon its ludicrous schemes to cut welfare to the most vulnerable, and slash public and community service jobs.

ACOSS's report released today shows an alarming number of Australians, and especially children, living in poverty. This is unacceptable for a nation as wealthy as ours.

In line with the recommendations of the Henry tax review, the Australian Greens have put forward a revenue raising proposal to reform superannuation tax and make it fairer for people on low-incomes.

Instead of charging a flat tax rate which unfairly disadvantages low-income earners, we propose a system of taxing contributions as a discount to marginal tax rates. Our treasury costed policy of spreading superannuation taxing contributions as a discount to marginal tax rates would raise$2.9 billion a year, and more than $10 billion over four years, the Australian Greens said today.

In the wake of today’s High Court decision overturning John Howard and Julia Gillard’s school chaplaincy program, the Greens are offering to work with the government to ensure the remainder of the $222 million is spent to the benefit of students in employing properly qualified counsellors and student support officers.

The Australian Greens today welcome the appointment of Mr Philip Bowen to establish the Parliamentary Budget Office, a Greens reform to deliver greater transparency and accountability for Australia’s democracy.

“I welcome Mr Bowen’s appointment to be the first Parliamentary Budget Officer, and look forward to the established Office providing greater oversight and public scrutiny of financial promises and costings from all parties at election time,” Australian Greens Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

The Opposition's economically reckless attempt to block lifting Australia's debt ceiling to levels that would still be amongst the lowest in the world demonstrate that Tony Abbott, Joe Hockey and Andrew Robb cannot be trusted with Australia's economy, the Greens said today.

"Blocking lifting the debt ceiling risks a devastating impact on the Australian economy, leading to massive disruption for millions of people, for absolutely no reason," Australian Greens Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

Reports that Trade Minister Craig Emerson attempted to secure labour and environment standards in the free trade agreement with Malaysia, and calls by industry and experts to abandon the negotiations with China due to concerns about sovereign investment in Australia are positive signs that the trade agenda is shifting away from unfettered free trade.