Human Rights & Justice

Greens deliver stable, top-level representation

Media Release | Spokesperson Bob Brown, Adam Bandt MP

Monday 12th December 2011, 4:48pm

While the Gillard Labor government continues to short-change Tasmania, both the Australian Greens' leader and deputy leader are Tasmanian.

"Nationwide, Australians can look forward to continued effective representation by the Greens whether it's seeking a fairer tax burden for big corporations to fund health, education, public transport or clean energy technologies and national dental health care," Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said in Hobart today.

"While the Prime Minister leaves Tasmania out of the inner circle, the Greens give Tasmania the assurance of top-level representation in Canberra for many years to come," Senator Brown said. "That said, I congratulate Julie Collins and look forward to working with her."

"The Greens' success with a carbon price alone guarantees Tasmania, with its abundant renewable energy, will see millions of dollars flowing south over Bass Strait, thanks to the Greens, in coming decades.

"The Australian Greens' party room is very content with the distribution of portfolios, covering all key issues."

Spokesperson for Legal Affairs, Penny Wright, congratulated incoming Attorney General Nicola Roxon on her new role and said she hoped as the first female to take on the job, Minister Roxon would continue her predecessor's work of making Australia's anti-discrimination laws compliant with its international human rights obligations.

"Discrimination is still a reality for many Australians and we need to ensure that our law is consistent and provides real equality for all Australians," Senator Wright said.

Member for Melbourne Adam Bandt said he was pleased that flexibility and job security for workers was now front and centre.

"The Greens have been pushing for some time to get more flexible hours at work. The challenge for Mr Shorten will be matching the rhetoric of flexibility to real and concrete improvement in working people's lives. We want to see existing flexible arrangements extending to all workers. Parents and carers, in particular need to get mandated rights to flexible hours," Mr Bandt said.

"I will be also seeking support from Mr Shorten for the Greens' Fair Work (Job Security and Fairer Bargaining) Amendment Bill 2011 which will put job security at the heart of the Fair Work Act," Mr Bandt said.

Australian Greens National Conference Press Conference - November 6, 2011

Greencast | Spokesperson Bob Brown, Rachel Siewert, Scott Ludlam, Adam Bandt MP

Sunday 6th November 2011, 4:10pm

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown, Senator for Queensland Larissa Waters, Senators for Western Australia Rachel Siewert and Scott Ludlam, and Member for Melbourne Adam Bandt spoke to the media about the Australian Greens National Conference in Fremantle, WA.

Topics included the allocation of preferences, the environmental threats posed by developments in the Kimberley, and the Nationals' call for a "discussion paper" on coal seam gas.

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Give Innocent Children a Voice

Today the High Court has agreed to extend the injunction to delay the expulsion to Malaysia of the first group of asylum seekers (including children) who arrived on Christmas Island last week. Now it is over to you, to have your say.

The Government is shirking its international responsibilities by sending asylum seekers to a country where their human rights are not guaranteed. Malaysia does not have a good record when it comes to the treatment of vulnerable asylum seekers; caning and arbitrary detention are common place. Despite the Prime Minister’s verbal assurances, nothing in the written agreement between our two countries allays the concerns of human rights advocates and legal experts.

We are extremely concerned for the welfare of children, particularly those who have arrived unaccompanied. Children should never be made an example of. They are innocent and their welfare should not be sacrificed by a Government trying to score cheap political points. Australia is better than this.

Today’s decision of the High Court to extend this injunction, provides the Government with one last chance to drop this shameful deal.

This means the community also has another chance to pressure the Immigration Minister to uphold his obligations as the legal guardian of the children about to be expelled to Malaysia.

You can write to the Minister below.

We know that this is an unpopular deal. The more Australians read about it, the less we like it. This is your chance, to have your say and tell the Government that rather than using innocent children as pawns in their political game, it should be treating these vulnerable people with compassion.

Write to Minister Bowen

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Sri Lanka envoy wrong man for the job: Bandt

Media Release | Spokesperson Adam Bandt MP

Tuesday 10th May 2011, 8:33am

‪‬Greens MP Adam Bandt has expressed dismay at the Australian government's approval of a former naval commander as the new Sri Lanka High Commissioner to Australia.‬
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Mr Bandt said the decision could undermine Australia's ability to play a positive to role in supporting human rights and peace in Sri Lanka.‬

‪"Admiral Samarasinghe is the wrong man for the job," Mr Bandt said.‬

‪"The UN has said there needs to be an investigation into war crimes by the navy on his watch."‬
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"The government is responsible for doing due diligence in the wake of the claims about war crimes and human rights abuses."‬

"The Australian government would be wise to not accept ex-military officers for diplomatic positions."‬

"The government needs to revisit this decision."‬

African communities' success should be celebrated not denigrated

Media Release | Spokesperson Adam Bandt MP

Friday 29th April 2011, 12:04pm

Human Rights & Justice

The recent negative attention on the Sudanese community in Melbourne and Australia is disappointing, Greens MP Adam Bandt said today.

"Of course, the conflict and violence that has reportedly occurred is not justified and needs to be addressed, but violence and abuse of alcohol is sadly a fact of life right across Australia and a problem amongst all young people, not just one group," Mr Bandt said.

"In fact, the Victoria Police have said they do not view this recent conflict as racially motivated."

"Despite this reality, it seems some have blown the recent conflict out of proportion and pointed the finger at the whole Sudanese and even the broader African communities. This is not acceptable."

"In my experience, no-one is working harder to address the problems faced by recently arrived migrants and their families than the various African Australian communities themselves."

"Such problems include experiences of racism and discrimination, access to employment, training and education, support for small business and adequate community services."

"The communities are working hard to address these problems, but they won't be solved unless all levels of government make them a priority."

"On the other hand, there are many successes and positive achievements in the community to celebrate as well, something we don't hear enough about."

"I recently had the opportunity to work with many local people on the referendum for Independence in South Sudan. Their commitment and hard work highlights the manner in which the Sudanese community is striving to bring into being the positive values of democracy and peaceful co-existence."

"The wider Australian community should not give in to knee-jerk shock and horror stories about Sudanese Australians and the wider African communities. It doesn't match reality and it does us all a real disservice."