NSW Treasurer Michael Costa’s budget hides underspending on the environment and education.  Forward estimates show that power privatisation will increase future taxes and slash front line services, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.

Dr Kaye said: “The Treasurer’s third budget is a statement of his disdain for teachers, public transport, and climate change.

“He has clearly won the cabinet battles to keep expenditure on services down. (more…)

Tuesday’s state budget will leave public school classrooms $86.5 million short of the money needed to bring them up to an acceptable standard while wealthy private schools will continue to be heavily subsidised, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.

Commenting on the pre-budget announcement in today’s Sunday Telegraph (p.2, “Schools falling apart at seams”), Dr Kaye said: “The Iemma government failed to increase public school maintenance funding in real terms to address the $86.5 million backlog.

“The supposed $11 million boost will only hold total spending at standstill after accounting for rising costs. (more…)

During Senate Estimates this evening, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission confirmed $1.8 million of funding to support workplace related complaints has been cut by the Rudd Government.

“The Government is trying to justify the cuts by saying Work Choices will eventually be abolished. However, they do not intend to re-introduce unfair dismissal protections until 2010,” said Australian Greens spokesperson on Industrial Relations, Senator Rachel Siewert late this evening.

“This leaves another two years of workers not being protected by unfair dismissal laws and HREOC struggling to meet increased demand.” (more…)

ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey introduced into the Assembly today a Bill to establish a container deposit scheme in the ACT.

“Governments around Australia have resisted the reintroduction of container deposit schemes for many years,” Dr Foskey said today.

“But the increase in the waste we produce and the generally inadequate level of recycling show that it’s time to change course.

“Reducing the production of single-use containers minimises land fill space as well as energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from mainly fossil fuel generated power stations, mining activities, metal smelters, canneries, pulp and paper and bottle production facilities. (more…)

ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey said that the ACT majority Government is not using its generous budget, handed down today, to provide the leadership needed to address the challenges of climate change and growing inequity in the ACT.

“Of course the Greens are pleased to see a few of our climate change and environment ideas picked up in this budget, but we still lag behind other cities of our size and income across the western world,” Dr Foskey said today.

“The challenge of climate change should see this government commit to a sustainable rapid transit scheme that will allow people across Canberra to enjoy life without a car, and energy efficient buildings - whether they are old or new - which will be good for our planet and cheaper to run.”

“This is an infrastructure-rich budget that will provide a boon to the development industry for years to come. Given the expected drop in Federal Government activity in the ACT, that might be a deliberate strategy. It looks like there are going to be new buildings and refurbishments and roads all over the town. With the exception of Woden and Weston Creek.” (more…)

A Global Greens secretariat, to exchange information between the world’s 80 Greens parties, is likely to be established in Australia, Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown said in Sao Paulo today.

The Second Global Greens Congress voted Sunday morning in Sao Paulo, Brazil to adopt the Australian initiative for the secretariat, subject to final plans being approved in March 2009. (more…)

A new report published by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has highlighted grave concerns about the housing conditions affecting Indigenous Australians.

“The inequality experienced by Indigenous Australians is a national disgrace, and adequate housing should be top of the list of priorities,” said Greens spokesperson on Indigenous Issues, Senator Rachel Siewert today.

The report indicates the Indigenous impact of the housing crisis, with over a quarter of Australia’s Indigenous population living in overcrowded conditions. The highest rates of overcrowding among Indigenous households were in the Northern Territory (38%) followed by Western Australia (16%). (more…)

Greens Senator Kerry Nettle today welcomed the news that the Rudd government will begin the process of same-sex law reform later this year.

“This is good news but The Greens believe that same-sex couples should not face any discrimination in federal law,” said Senator Nettle.

“The Greens will continue to push for the removal of all discrimination, including in relation to marriage. (more…)

Australian Greens climate change spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, today called on Prime Minister Rudd and Premier Brumby to link their plans for addressing the housing crisis to highly energy efficient housing and siting on effective,
networked public transport routes.

Senator Milne said “Cheap housing on the urban fringes will make will make it harder for struggling Australians to make ends meet unless it is required to be energy efficient and on public transport routes. With oil at US$100 a barrel already draining pockets, and an emissions trading scheme set to increase energy prices, we cannot address an issue like
this in a vacuum. (more…)