Australian Greens Leader Senator Richard Di Natale and Greens Treasury Spokesperson Adam Bandt MP expressed strong disappointment at the savings measures announced today by the Labor party.

“We are hearing a lot about zombie measures in the budget, well today the Labor party are resurrecting the zombie of Tony Abbott by refusing to join with the Greens and the community in saying no to harsh cuts for students, families and research,” Senator Richard Di Natale said.

Greens MP Adam Bandt today confirmed that the Greens will preference Labor second in the fiver inner-city Melbourne seats of Melbourne, Batman, Wills, Higgins and Melbourne Ports.

“The Greens have made it very clear that we will not be preferencing the Liberals anywhere, yet Labor is on the verge of striking a preference deal with the Liberals,” Mr Bandt said.

“Labor would preference the Liberals ahead of Nick Xenophon candidates in some South Australian seats in return for the Liberals preferencing Labor ahead of the Greens in seats like Batman and Grayndler.”

The Greens today said the proposal from local traders in Richmond to support a supervised injecting facility for the area and not simply CCTV cameras was worthy of consideration to help deal with drug issues present in Richmond.

Greens Yarra Councillor Misha Coleman said: “We welcome this constructive proposal from local traders and believe it is worthy of very serious consideration.”

Greens Federal Member for Melbourne Adam Bandt MP today said the only party preferencing the Liberals is Labor.

“There is no deal. Let's be clear about what is going on here. Labor is desperately pleading for Liberal preferences to hang on to their inner-city seats,” Mr Bandt said.

“The most likely deal is one between Labor and Liberal, just like at the last election, where they joined up to try and stop the Greens from winning Melbourne.”

Greens MP Adam Bandt has called on Bill Shorten to rule out preferencing the Liberals ahead of the Greens at the upcoming election.

Mr Bandt said the Labor leader must overrule Labor MP Michael Danby, who told Sky News today that he will preference the Liberals in his seat of Melbourne Ports and has called on Labor to preference the Liberals ahead of the Greens in all seats.

“Labor voters would be appalled to know that Labor preferences are going to the Liberals ahead of the Greens,” Mr Bandt said.

Greens Federal Member for Melbourne Adam Bandt MP today said Anthony Albanese’s extraordinary statement yesterday was a desperate move by Labor to try to shore up Liberal preferences in seats around the country in order for some of their frontbench to continue their careers.

“Labor is now desperately begging the Liberals for preferences in seats around the country to allow Labor party Members of Parliament to continue their careers,” Mr Bandt said.

“I like Anthony Albanese, but he has gone from fighting Tories to begging Tories.”

Greens Member for Melbourne Adam Bandt MP today said he had been overwhelmed by the nearly 1000 people who have signed up with his office in less than 24 hours to provide practical support to arriving Syrian refugees.

"We launched our 'Melbourne Welcomes Refugees' project and almost 1000 people put their hand up on the first day to provide practical support to refugees," Mr Bandt said.

"Melburnians aren't just putting compassion back on the national agenda, they're opening their arms at home too."

Following conflicting reports that the perpetrator of the Sydney Siege may have had a licensed firearm, Acting Greens Leader Adam Bandt said the Prime Minister is right to launch a review into the adequacy of our gun laws but the review must avoid becoming an excuse to attack refugees.

"The Greens have been saying for a long time that our gun laws need to be stronger. The tragic events in Sydney earlier this week only strengthens the case for better gun control," said Mr Bandt.

Statement

Acting Greens Leader Adam Bandt

We are horrified by the unspeakable violence wrought on a school in Peshawar, Pakistan, that has resulted in the mass killing of children and teachers.

Statement Acting Greens Leader Adam Bandt

Hostage incident in Martin Place, Sydney

Our thoughts are with all those held hostage in Martin Place, their family and friends.

We share the distress of everyone else around Australia as we watch this terrifying situation unfold.

Our thoughts are also with the police and security forces managing the incident.

This is a time for everyone in the community to come together as we hope for a peaceful outcome.