Today the Senate passed my motion which reaffirms its support for a ban on the development of nuclear power.

Nuclear power is incredibly expensive, water intensive and high risk, with a waste legacy that remains unsolved.

Today, The Greens introduced the Great Australian Bight Environment Protection Bill. This Bill would stop drilling in the Great Australian Bight and move for World Heritage Listing.

It is high time the Great Australian Bight was protected from drilling, and It is the role of the Parliament to listen to the will of the people, and the people have made their view crystal clear.

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Read the details of The Great Australian Bight Protection Bill. 

Australians love the great outdoors, from our beaches to our forests, rivers and wide open plains. We have some of the most unique flora and fauna on the planet. In Australia, nearly 50 percent of our birds, 87 percent of our mammals, and 93 percent of our flowering plants are unique to us. But much of it is under threat. 

Climate breakdown, land clearing, and invasive species are wreaking havoc on our natural environment. We're ranked fourth in the world for plant and animal extinctions. As well as holding the terrible record of being the only developed country listed as a deforestation hot spot. We have 517 animals, 1,373 plants and 85 distinct ecological communities listed as nationally threatened or extinct, and these numbers are trending in the wrong direction. 

Globally the UN tells us there are a million species under threat of extinction.

Today the Senate voted for an inquiry into press freedom and whistle-blower protection showing that there are some in our Parliament who care about a frank and fearless media.

Today the Senate finally began the debate on a full and frank inquiry into the mismanagement of the Murray-Darling Basin

Our Rivers continue to languish under a poorly implemented Plan. It is up to the Parliament to resolve these issues and get the Murray-Darling Basin back on track. I urge the Labor Party to support a Royal Commission and not let the Coalition Government and Barnaby Joyce off the hook

The Murray River crisis isn’t farmers versus the environment: It is big business versus everyone else – local farmers, communities and the environment.

This week I visited the Riverina and Murrumbidgee. I saw irrigation expansion as far as the eye can see and huge new dams that have been built using taxpayers’ money.
Dams that will catch even more water, leaving those of us downstream even worse off.

For years the argument made by politicians and big industry players is that the battle over the survival of the Murray-Darling river system is “environment v farmers”.

This week I was sworn back into the Senate for another 6 years. I am feeling more energised and determined than ever.

On the agenda this week we had tax cuts, Bob Hawke condolences, the fight for decomocracy in Hong Kong, and privatisation of SA’s trains and trams. 

The $158 billion tax cut plan was the first test of the new Parliament and Labor has already collapsed at the first hurdle. The crossbench has shown their true colours and proven that the Greens are the only real opposition in the Senate.

Tonight’s episode of Four Corners exposed Australia’s extinction crisis for what it is: a national disgrace.

Help us make sure the Environment Minister takes this seriously.

Successive governments have ignored the growing alarm bells about our natural world and now we are in a full-blown crisis. Here in Australia, nearly 50 percent of all our birds, 87 percent of all our mammals, and 93 percent of all our flowering plants are unique to us.