The Australian Greens are calling for a significant overhaul of the IAS following a repo

Statement from Australian Greens Whip Sen. Rachel Siewert:

Today the Australian Greens Party Room met and re-affirmed the positions of our leadership team.

Following a customary spill of the leadership positions, the roles of Leader, Co-Deputy Leader and Whip have all been returned without challenge. The rotating position of Party Room Chair has moved from Adam Bandt MP to Sen. Janet Rice.

The leadership roles for the 46th Parliament are as follows:

The Australian Greens are calling on the Government to immediately suspend the controversial robodebt program while a review is undertaken.

“We will go back to Parliament in a couple of weeks to rush through tax cuts for high income earners while those living below the poverty line are being harassed by their own Government to pay back debts they don’t even owe,” Senator Rachel Siewert said.

 “It was the recommendation of a senate inquiry that I chaired over two years ago to suspend robodebt until the issues could be ironed out, particularly the use of “income averaging”.

This Reconciliation Week the Australian Greens are calling on the Government to begin their term with a commitment to First Nations peoples to address Australia’s unfinished business, close the gap and achieve justice for First Nations peoples.

Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said a commitment to self-determination must be at the heart of closing the gap, and that this approach has been sadly lacking.

“I congratulate Minister Wyatt on being appointed Minister for Indigenous Australians.

The Australian Greens will build a new employment services system that assists people into fulfilling employment pathways and provides specialised help to those facing significant barriers. We want our new employment services system to achieve better outcomes for unemployed workers.

The Australian Greens are calling on the major parties to lift their game when it comes to increasing Newstart and addressing poverty in Australia.

"It is despicable that both major parties are prepared to leave people living in poverty, while they either tell us about a “review” or make up nonsense about so –called supplementary payments, Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on Family and Community services said today.

The Greens are calling on the Federal Government to guarantee that people in the South West continue to have access to quality mental health services during the transition to the NDIS.

“After visiting providers and stakeholders in the South West I have serious concerns about funding for and access to mental health services with the roll out of the NDIS for people who are currently on Commonwealth funded services,” Senator Rachel Siewert said.

Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert today announced that the Australian Greens would stand with the Message Stick Walk to take care of unfinished business and start a Treaty process to heal the nation.

The Greens are calling on the major parties to present a comprehensive plan for the aged care sector before the 18th of May.

“With the Royal Commission hearings during an election campaign the major parties should be called to account on what they have to offer older Australians and their families this election, but all we have seen is piecemeal offering from both sides,” Australian Greens spokesperson on Ageing Senator Rachel Siewert said.

The Greens (WA) have today pitched to voters in Kalgoorlie that this election is a chance to use their vote to send a message to the major parties that their vote can’t be taken for granted.

“People living in regional areas such as Kalgoorlie need a representative in Parliament that puts community first, not their big donors,” Greens Senator for WA  Rachel Siewert said.