Greens MP and workplace relations spokesperson Adam Bandt says the nurses dispute could be resolved if the Gillard government backs his Fairer Bargaining Bill to be introduced into Parliament on Monday.

Mr Bandt says that workers in essential services, like nurses, are unfairly disadvantaged because their rights to take industrial action are limited and Fair Work Australia is barred from arbitrating on key issues such as nurse/patient ratios.

The Greens' Fair Work (Job Security and Fairer Bargaining) Amendment Bill will also limit the ability of powerful employers, such as Qantas, ability using lockouts as a legal tactic and require Fair Work to consider job security as well as productivity in making decisions.

"If my bill passes, the Baillieu government's attack on nurse/patient ratios will be stopped dead in its tracks and Fair Work Australia could resolve the issue."

"As an industrial lawyer for over a decade, you can spot when a powerful employer is stringing out negotiations because they think they'll get a better outcome before a legally hamstrung Fair Work Australia. That's exactly what the Baillieu government is doing."

"Employers like the Victorian Government have a double advantage under the Fair Work Act. First, people like nurses have fewer rights to take industrial action because they work in an essential service. Second, if the dispute ends up in arbitration, legal barriers mean the tribunal will only deal with some issues and won't impose outcomes like nurse/patient ratios."

"As a result, the Government is dragging its feet in the negotiations, hoping to somehow force the dispute to arbitration. Nurses are stuck in an impossible Catch 22, where if they take industrial action nurse/patient ratios disappear, but if they don't take industrial action, the dispute doesn't get resolved."

"We now have the unacceptable situation where the dispute is dragging on, nurses are in such despair that they're considering resigning, and yet the negotiations are going nowhere. This dispute needs to be fixed."

"Minister Shorten should not wait until the Fair Work Review finishes. Labor could help resolve the dispute preserve nurse/patient ratios tomorrow if they back my bill."

Greens MP and employment spokesperson Adam Bandt says the government lacked courage to remove coercive powers from the controversial Australian Building and Construction Commission. Mr Bandt said the government accepted some changes to the laws but unfortunately the bill that passed the house failed to restore equal rights to workers in the industry.

Bandt unsuccessfully moved amendments to remove the coercive powers. He also tried to limit the powers to more serious offences carrying a penalty of 12 months imprisonment.

However the Greens were able to negotiate changes to the legislation to remove double jeopardy provisions, which previously meant workers were able to be prosecuted for the same breaches twice.

Mr Bandt said "it was disappointing the government would not budge on the coercive powers despite have cross-bench support to do so. The only reason these coercive powers remain is because the government wanted to retain them."

"We have just missed a great opportunity to restore rights taken away by John Howard."

"This bill means if go to work in a hard hat and boots you still have fewer rights than people who wear a suit and a tie."

"In a democracy, people in the building industry shouldn't have fewer rights than accused criminals."

"People shouldn't fear being hauled into secret inquisitions and forced to 'name names' under threat of imprisonment. That's McCarthyism."

Greens' spokesperson for health, Senator Richard Di Natale, and Greens MP, Adam Bandt, said today that the Greens had secured $165 million in funding for dental health. The commitment to allocate the money raised by the Medicare Levy Surcharge towards dental care comes in response to the Greens support for passage of the Government's private health insurance package.

"Access to dental care is one of the biggest areas of inequality in Australia," said Senator Di Natale.

"The Greens have acted to correct that inequality by securing $165 million for dental health, which will be raised through the Medicare levy surcharge. The private health insurance rebate contributes to great inequity in Australia's health system and encourages the development of a two-tier, American style system. Means testing this unfair rebate is an important step forward.

"Although we are pleased with this outcome, the Greens will not waver in our commitment to a universal Denticare scheme, beginning in this year's budget. This is a solid down payment on year one of Denticare but we will continue to work with the Government to achieve this outcome."

Greens MP, Adam Bandt, said that the Greens believe that going to a dentist should be like going to a doctor.

"When I agreed to support the Gillard government, improving dental care was a key part of our written agreement," said Bandt

"Thanks to the people of Melbourne, we are now well on our way to putting dental into Medicare. When there are Greens in both houses, it's good for Australians' health."

Greens MP Adam Bandt has criticised the ANZ Bank for hiking its loan rates by 6 basis points in defiance of the Reserve Bank decision to keep interest rates on hold.

Mr Bandt said the big banks were breaking their social contract with the Australian people.

Mr Bandt said the decision was also serious challenge to monetary policy at a time when the economy is facing serious challenges from the global situation.

He said the government should now get behind a Greens bill to require banks to provide a tracker mortgage with rates that would rise and fall with the cash rate.

"The banks are breaking their social contract with the Australian people," Mr Bandt said.

"The time for tough talking from the Treasurer and the Opposition is at an end. Now it's time for action and the government should support The Greens' bill to rein in excessive profiteering."

"ANZ's decision is also a challenge to monetary policy at a time when the global economy may mean action is needed."

"Wayne Swan should not let ANZ get away with it."

The Green's Banking and Consumer Credit Protection Amendment (Mobility and Flexibility) Bill, currently before parliament, would force banks to provide loan products that track changes to the Reserve Bank cash rate and also make it easier for consumers to switch mortgages by changes to mortgage lenders insurance.