The Australian Greens have welcomed Attorney-General Robert McClelland’s announcement that the Federal Government intends to amend the family law system to place a greater focus on child safety.

Senator Rachel Siewert said today The Greens strongly opposed some of the changes to the Family Law Act introduced by the Howard Government in 2006, saying the changes were not in the best interests of the child.

Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia) (9.43 pm)—I rise to speak on the Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Child Care Budget Measures) Bill 2010 and the government’s decision on budget night to freeze the indexation of the childcare rebate for four years at the 2008-09 level of $7,500, affecting tens of thousands of Australian families.

Senator Rachel Siewert has called for a review of the use of ADHD medication following publication of a report from the University of Western Australia that suggests the use of stimulant medication for children not only fails to help them academically but may also harm them physically.

"We know that medication rates for children suffering from Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder have soared since the last decade, with more than 20,000 West Australians using stimulants - a prescription rate that ranks amongst the highest in the world," Senator Siewert said.

The Australian Greens also wholeheartedly support this motion. Anybody who was in the Great Hall and heard the apology could not fail to be moved by the words that were spoken and the genuine emotion that people felt upon hearing those words. It is genuinely a very significant step in helping the forgotten Australians and former child migrants to heal.

The Australian Greens welcome the announcement of a formal apology by the Australian Government to the Forgotten Australians and former child migrants.

The federal government today announced the apology will take place at a special remembrance event in Parliament House in Canberra on 16 November 2009.

"I welcome the news of an official apology to more than 500,000 Australians - many of whom suffered abuse and neglect while in out-of-home care last century," Greens Community Services Spokesperson, Rachel Siewert said.

Greens Senator for WA Rachel Siewert is concerned that trees in schoolyards across Australia are being cut down to accommodate
standardised new buildings under the Rudd Government's Building the  Education Revolution funding guidelines.

"Concerned parents in Perth have told me that many trees have already been cut down while the future of others hangs on a thread, only thanks to the intervention of concerned parents," Senator Siewert said.