We have heard a lot of discussion about the issues around the growing debt and deficit in this country. We do not hear a lot of discussion about the growing social deficit in this country, which is going to be expanded under this budget. We of course have concerns around the deficit, but we also believe that many Australians share with us the view that in tough times we need to invest very carefully in measures that soften the blow to those hardest hit during those tough times, during recession.

Australian Greens Senator for Western Australia Rachel Siewert today expressed deep concern that the Federal budget leaves many people behind and does not develop the new green economy.

"While the increase of $32.49 per week for single aged pensioners is a welcome step, the Government has not addressed the crisis Australia is facing in aged care. In fact, for Western Australia I am deeply concerned that beds may need to close and many older people will face deeper hardship, particularly in regional and rural areas," said Senator Siewert.

The Australian Greens today called for the Government to include single parents in the pension increases foreshadowed for the Budget.

"If the Rudd Budget duds single parents, the Greens will take the Government on in the Senate," said Australian Greens spokesperson on Community Affairs, Senator Rachel Siewert.

"The Government's line that they are ‘robbing the rich to pay the poor' is in reality a very selective Robin Hood approach, with some of the people most in need missing out entirely.

The Australian Greens said today the upcoming budget must deliver for those most disadvantaged in our community.

"As the impacts of the global financial crisis are increasingly impacting on the Australian economy, we need to be focusing our efforts on those individuals and families who are bearing the brunt of the economic downturn and those most at risk of unemployment and financial crisis," said Australian Greens spokesperson on Community Affairs Senator Rachel Siewert.

The Australian Greens today called on the Government to apply promised increases in the single pension rate to all pensioners and unemployed people (including single parents) in the May Budget.

"The Government should be listening to calls from community service providers to immediately raise rates of income support. People surviving day-to-day on the pension are already struggling, and this is only likely to get worse," said Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert today.

The Australian Greens today highlighted the need for income support for the unemployed to be raised in the May budget.

"Those people currently on the Newstart allowance struggle to get by on the existing rate. People have mortgages and rent to pay, food to buy and families to provide for," said Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert.

The global economic crisis has serious implications for the nation and particularly my home state of Western Australia. While there is no denying that action from the Federal Government is required if we are to head off the storm, this must be targeted to the needs of the community.

The Australian Greens today applauded the Department of Treasury for supporting the long-standing Greens policy of scrapping the private health insurance rebate.

"It is good to see the experts in the Treasury Department recognising that this Howard era measure is bad policy," said Australian Greens health spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewert.

"The private health insurance rebate takes money away from public hospitals and puts it straight in the deep pockets of the private health insurance industry."

Greens highlight emergency relief for struggling families as more mines close

Western Australia must create a more resilient economy that can ride out mining busts and the current round of job cuts, according to the Australian Greens.

“The need for emergency relief is becoming evermore apparent as each day more Western Australians find themselves out of work through mining closures and cutbacks,” Australian Greens Employment and Workplace Relations Spokeswoman Rachel Siewert said.