In an unprecedented intervention by the federal government fisheries permits will be bought-out for the first time in Australia’s history because of climate change and environmental factors. 

In what was described as a  necessary but “shocking” development by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, the federal government will spend $20m to buy out vessel permits in the south-east trawl fishery because the climate crisis is affecting population numbers of some species, making current fishing levels unsustainable.

The Greens have outlined a plan to save the Tasmanian devil and called on the Liberals and Labor to adopt the comprehensive measures required to protect this iconic species. 

Federal funding has been critical to the Tasmanian devil’s survival, but this ended in 2017 despite their recovery from the infectious cancer that decimated their population being far from over.

Nipaluna/Hobart will be at the centre of an exciting national trial to roll out more bicycle infrastructure under an $18m fully-costed plan launched by the Greens today. 

In the last power sharing arrangement with the Gillard Labor Government the Greens negotiated an historic $80m national bike path fund. This included a “Bike Blackspot” app and campaign where cyclists can log blackspot in existing bike paths, which generates an email and report to the Minister for Infrastructure, and contributes to a real time map of all Blackspots in Australia. 

The Greens say confirmation in the Reef Snapshot: Summer 2021-22 of the sixth mass coral bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef lays bare the Morrison Government’s near-decade of failure on climate action.  

The Snapshot confirms the Reef has suffered the fourth mass bleaching event since 2016, and the first in La Nina conditions, with 91% of surveyed areas showing signs of bleaching.

Lines attributable to Greens deputy leader and Queensland Senator Larissa Waters:

The Greens have called on the Morrison Government to intervene and rule out using explosives on protected seals during its three-year trial of fish farms in Commonwealth waters.  

The call comes following the release of Government data which revealed Huon Aquaculture used more than 8057 underwater explosives against seals in the 15 months to the end of March.

The Greens have today launched a plan to protect lutruwita/Tasmania’s forests for future generations and for a safe climate, all while ensuring new job opportunities.

With states across Australia ending native logging, it’s clear the writing is on the wall for Tasmania’s native forest logging industry. The IPCC tells us our forests are the first line of defence against climate change and must be protected. Native forest logging is destroying biodiversity and undermining climate action, and consumers are waking up to the damage.

It is an indictment on the Tasmanian Government that the state's natural environmental values, agricultural productivity, and cultural heritage have been so badly impacted by feral deer mismanagement. 

In a balance of power situation after the federal election, the Greens will push for federal intervention to fix the critical threat of feral deer on lutruwita/Tasmania’s biodiversity and cultural heritage.

Quotes attributable to Greens senator for lutruwita/Tasmania, Peter Whish-Wilson: 

Greens Leader Adam Bandt announced today that the Greens would preference Labor ahead of the Liberals across the country. Greens Local and State branches finalised preference recommendations for how-to-vote cards this week ahead of early voting polling booths opening on May 9.

Greens how-to-vote cards, that recommend preferences, will recommend a preference for Labor above the Coalition and place other right wing parties last. The Greens will also recommend a preference for climate independents in key Liberal held seats.

The Greens have called on the PM to rule out the use of fossil fuels in producing hydrogen at the proposed Bell Bay Hydrogen hub. 

Clean hydrogen is not green hydrogen. Clean hydrogen uses fossil fuel electricity with a series of questionable offsets along the supply chain.

Quotes attributable to Greens Senator for lutruwita/Tasmania, Peter Whish-Wilson:

“The PM today needs to directly answer some simple questions:

“Will the power agreements with users of the hub (Origin Energy) use any fossil fuels for electricity production? 

The Greens have called on the Morrison Government and Labor to show leadership on stopping the extradition of Julian Assange to the United States to face espionage charges.

Quotes attributable to Greens senator for lutruwita/Tasmania, Peter Whish-Wilson: 

“The Espionage Act wasn’t intended to be used against publishers. We must support press freedoms and those who hold the powerful to account. 

“Julian Assange’s prosecution has always been political. It needs political intervention of the highest order from our government to get justice for him.