The Australian Greens bill to increase Newstart, Social Services Legislation Amendment (Ending the Poverty Trap) Bill 2018 will be debated in the Senate next week in private members time.
 

The Australian Greens have welcomed changes to the deeming rates for part pensioners but condemn the Government for failing to address the appalling low rates of Newstart at the same time. 

“Those living on Newstart are doing it very tough. While the Greens agree that deeming rates need reform, the Government also has responsibility for those on Newstart and needs to show them compassion as well”, Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on Family and Community Services said today.

The Australian Greens are today urging the Coalition to implement the Uluru Statement of the Heart in its entirety.

Minister Wyatt’s National Press Club address today provided little clarity on his vision for constitutional recognition.
 

The Australian Greens said today that the Government should not just be considering deeming rates for part pensioners but should be looking at the appalling low rates of Newstart.
 

The Australian Greens have expressed concern for the people of Ceduna, East Kimberley, the Goldfields and Hinkler regions who were given false hope that it would become easier to get an exemption from the Cashless Debit Card from today.

“Unfortunately, the concerns I raised regarding the exemption process back in April have come to pass and there are a lot of people who are very frustrated right now,” Australian Greens spokesperson on Family and Community Services Senator Rachel Siewert said.

The Australian Greens are today calling for State and Federal Governments Australia wide to urgently work to overhaul approaches to youth justice, including legislating to raise the criminal age of responsibility to 14 years old.

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”.