Greens Leader Christine Milne says the minimum wage and penalty rates are under threat in Australia.

"It is absolutely clear that regardless of the findings of the Productivity Commission, the Coalition is intent on making life harder for Australian workers," Senator Milne said.

"This is a recipe for growing inequality and is deliberate. It is in the DNA of the Coalition and their backers like Gina Rinehart to reduce the minimum wage and increase the gap between rich and poor.

Any Abbott government paid parental leave scheme must be fully funded by big business, the Australian Greens said today.

Australian Greens Leader Christine Milne said big questions remained over the funding of the scheme as proposed by Tony Abbott.

"Any scheme needs to be fair, affordable and legislated as a workplace right. The scheme would also need to be fully funded by big business, not budget cuts," Senator Milne said.

Greens Deputy Leader and Industry spokesperson, Adam Bandt MP, today said that Tony Abbott was pulling the rug out from under the feet of Australian workers. 

“Welcome to working life under the Liberals,” said Mr Bandt.  

“Tony Abbott is waging war on Australian workers instead of helping them. 

“Mr Abbott has declared war on workers on two fronts. 

Greens Leader Christine Milne and Greens Deputy Leader Adam Bandt have called on the government to support a loan guarantee or government investment in Qantas, but only if there are guarantees on protecting local jobs and conditions.

"There are strong economic and security reasons for Australia keeping a national carrier," Senator Milne said.

"Tony Abbott should not let more Australian jobs go to the wall. He needs to act.

"Australia is facing a jobs crisis, particularly in the south-east of the country. Qantas is a big employer and needs to stay in Australia."

Christine Milne joined a panel on ABC Saturday Extra to outline the Greens' vision for Tasmania's clean green and clever economic future.

Tasmania has so many advantages that the Greens have worked hard to develop, from the innovation economy with scientific research hubs and the NBN, through tourism and ecosystem services with wilderness protection, creativity and the arts, growing healthy food & much more.

Senator Milne today moved amendments to protect public servant whistleblowers. 

"The Greens want a whistleblower scheme that fully protects those who do disclose corruption, maladministration and inefficient waste of taxpayers' money." Australian Greens Leader Senator Christine Milne said.

"The Greens are the only party who will stand up for the interests of public servants. Tony Abbott has extreme plans to slash 12,000 public service jobs and Labor party has failed to deliver on their promises.

Today's projected budget surplus is on the back of single parents, trainees and apprentices, researchers and job-seekers, instead of sensibly plugging loopholes in the mining tax and building a stronger revenue base for future investments, the Australian Greens said.

"Today's Budget update confirms that Labor is more committed to Australia being a coal country than a caring or clever country," Australian Greens Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

Fixing the state royalties loophole in the mining tax would prepare our nation for the challenges of the 21st century, while sacking thousands of people from the public service will only make life harder for millions of Australians, the Greens said today.

"It is beyond ridiculous that governments will bend over backwards to protect jobs in a handful of industries while Labor and Tony Abbott are falling over each other to sack the people who are working hard providing services to all Australians," Australian Greens Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said today.

The latest report from the Climate Commission today shows that Australia is at risk of falling behind global action to move to clean, renewable energy. The report sends a clear message that our price on pollution is a vital first step in the right direction, and it's a damning indictment of Tony Abbott's negative rhetoric, the Australian Greens said today.