18 January 2012

Today brings further evidence of the need for Australia to send a patrol boat to the Southern Ocean to monitor Japanese whalers, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said.

"News of the assault on Sea Shepherd crew members again points to the urgent need for an Australian patrol vessel to be on site," Senator Brown said in Hobart.

11 January 2012

Tokyo’s illegal invasion of World Heritage Area continues

Early this morning the Japanese harpoon ship Yushin Maru III was holding fast in Australia’s World Heritage Area and territorial waters off Macquarie Island.  This is despite a call from Australia to have the ship exit our territory.

The ship is breaking Australian law which prohibits the entry of such vessels into our exclusive economic zone as well as territorial waters.

The Australian Greens have challenged Minister for Employment Bill Shorten to try living on $35 per day after making comments about Newstart Allowance that show how out of touch he is with the costs of living.
 
"It is very clear that our current income support system needs an overhaul, that it doesn't adequately support people and address the current employment market," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens community services spokesperson said today.

10 January 2012

Gillard’s failure on whaling

The Gillard government’s failure to do anything at all about this summer’s illegal Japanese whaling in Australia’s Antarctic waters leaves the Prime Minister’s admonition of three whaling activists looking insipid, Australian Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown said in Hobart today.

10 January 2012

Australian Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown says that the Japanese whaling ship Yushin Maru III, with harpoon up front, is now inside Australian territorial waters and the World Heritage area of the subantarctic Macquarie Island.

The Minister for Consumer Protection, Nick McKim today announced the release of a free ‘Do Not Knock’ sticker that aims to dramatically reduce the number of unwanted visits from sales people.
Mr McKim said many people object to being interrupted at home by unsolicited sales people, and will welcome this initiative by Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading.
“If you have a Do Not Knock sticker clearly displayed on the front of your house, and a salesperson subsequently knocks on your door, you should complain about their conduct,” Mr McKim said.

The Attorney General, Brian Wightman, and the Minister for Human Services, Cassy O’Connor, today urged Tasmanians to support White Ribbon Day and do all they can to eliminate violence against women.
Mr Wightman said the White Ribbon Day campaign calls on men to take an oath to never commit, excuse or remain silent about violence against women.
 
“Men have a particularly important role to play in creating a culture in which violent or threatening behaviour is unacceptable,” Mr Wightman said.
 

The Minister for Climate Change, Cassy O’Connor, today invited the public to comment on the future of Tasmanian Climate Action Council.
Ms O’Connor said the Council is being reviewed as part of the first four-yearly independent review of the Climate Change (State Action) Act 2008.
 
“The independent Tasmanian Climate Action Council has been an important source of advice to the Government on climate change, so it is important that it is as effective as possible,” she said.
 

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