Governance

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown today welcomed the release of the federal government's Electoral Reform Green Paper.

"The Greens will consider the options discussed in the Electoral Reform Green Paper over summer," Senator Brown said.

"The Green Paper process should include introducing proportional representation to the lower house, which is the best way to strengthen democracy and ensure that every vote counts and guaranteeing one person, one vote, one value.

"The Greens will also pursue a new law requiring truth in political advertising," Senator Brown said.

A Federal Court ruling that will halt one of the world's largest zinc mines is a big win for Traditional Owners and for the environment, said the Australian Greens today.

The Australian Greens say it's now up to the Federal Government to guarantee comprehensive broadband coverage for regional Australia, after the Senate last night voted to merge the now- defunct regional communications fund with a new Building Australia Fund.

Greens spokesperson for sustainable cities Senator Scott Ludlam, is calling on the Barnett Government to keep a $30 million sustainable energy fund as part of a commitment to secure energy source diversity in Western Australia, in light of the findings of the Senate Inquiry into the Varanus Island gas explosion which exposed the state's energy vulnerability.

The Australian Greens this week ensured financial security for the most vulnerable of veterans' partners in the event of a relationship breakdown.

World-class public transport must become a key component of nation building in the age of climate change and peak oil, and today the Australian Greens have launched a Senate Inquiry to begin the process.

The Australian Greens say the Government must take a majority equity stake in the National Broadband Network to ensure it's operated in the public interest, as controversy regarding Telstra's bid continues.

On 29 November all 79 of Victoria's Local Governments went to the polls. The Victorian Greens ran a record 95 candidates across the state, and early results suggest there will be many more Greens Councillors for the 2008-2012 local government term, some in places where Greens have never been elected before, like Queenscliffe, Port Phillip, Surf Coast and Glen Eira. In Yarra Ranges, Greens Councillor Samantha Dunn has been re-elected with more than 50% of the vote, and Greens have been returned to Melbourne, Yarra and Moreland City Councils. The Greens vote has doubled in parts of Brimbank and Banyule.

In Melbourne, Greens Lord Mayor candidate Adam Bandt (pictured) ran an excellent campaign, coming second in the primary vote. It appears Labor preferences to the Liberal Party meant The Greens could not get over the line. 

See more results at http://www.vic.greens.org.au/

The Greens will push for a new millionaires' tax when the Federal Government's financial rescue package comes before the Senate today.

The Senate today supported a motion moved by Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young to hold a Senate Inquiry into childcare in Australia, as the sector experiences turmoil in the wake of the ABC Learning collapse.

The Inquiry will have a broad scope to look at the need for childcare reform in Australia, and report back in March 2009.

"This Inquiry is vital for mapping the way forward for childcare in Australia," said Senator Hanson-Young.