The Australian Greens say today's March in May #bustthebudget rally will send a clear message to the Abbott Government that their cruel budget will not be accepted by the Australian community.

"Tony Abbott is intent on taking opportunities away from West Australian students, job seekers, young people, people with disability and single parents," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on family and community services said today.

The Australian Greens said today that single parents and job seekers have been badly let down by the Government in this year's federal budget.

"This is a disappointing budget for the vulnerable people that Labor claim they want to look after," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on families and community services said today.

"The lack of care being shown for vulnerable people is a blight on Labor's record in Government.

"The few piecemeal steps contained in the budget do not deliver the help needed for the most vulnerable Australians.

The Greens will move a Private Member's Bill when parliament resumes to help some of Australia's most vulnerable people, currently being ignored by the Government, by lifting the single rate of Newstart, Abstudy and the single living away from home Youth Allowance by $50 a week and indexing their growth the same way as the Aged Pension.

The Greens will vigorously defend a vision for Australia that sees us properly and fairly support each other and provide universal public health and education against Joe Hockey's vision of a dog-eat-dog world where short term profits are more important than people and planet.

"The big question I've been asking people since becoming Leader of the Greens last week is what kind of country do we want to live in?" Australian Greens Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

WA Senators Rachel Siewert and Scott Ludlam say today's historic carbon price vote is the start of serious action on climate change.

"The passage of the Clean Energy Future package through the Senate represents a new beginning for our economy, with new industries and new jobs being created," Senator Rachel Siewert said today.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown, Senator for Queensland Larissa Waters, Senators for Western Australia Rachel Siewert and Scott Ludlam, and Member for Melbourne Adam Bandt spoke to the media about the Australian Greens National Conference in Fremantle, WA.

Topics included the allocation of preferences, the environmental threats posed by developments in the Kimberley, and the Nationals' call for a "discussion paper" on coal seam gas. 

The gap between Australia’s rich and poor is growing and our long-term prosperity is being undermined.

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