Greens spokesperson for Women, Senator Larissa Waters, says the Senate Inquiry into the Government’s Family and Domestic Violence Leave Bill cemented the urgent need to give workers 10 days paid leave.

Queensland Greens Senator and spokesperson for gambling, Larissa Waters, said reports today that Queenslanders lost on average, a record-breaking $7 million a day in August 2018, shows the urgent need to ban political donations by the gambling industry.

“While the greedy gambling industry sits in the back pocket of the major political parties there will never be any real action to keep the community safe from predatory pokies,” Senator Waters said.

“There must be urgent action to curb these enormous losses and harm caused by poker machines.

Scrap the tampon tax, increase funding for frontline domestic violence services and deliver 10 days’ paid DV leave, is Greens spokesperson for women, Senator Larissa Waters' wish list ahead of meetings tomorrow which could alter the future of Australian women, children and trans people.

Tomorrow:

The Liberals continue to show contempt for the will of the Australian public when it comes to establishing a national anti-corruption body, Greens spokesperson for democracy, Queensland Senator, Larissa Waters said.

“Trust in public institutions has been trashed thanks to major parties representing their corporate donor mates, not the rest of us. Australians are overwhelmingly in favour of a national anti-corruption body yet the Liberals are blatantly ignoring them,” Senator Waters said.

Commenting on the release of the Government’s second Open Government National Action Plan, and on Labor’s comments about lobbying today, Australian Greens spokesperson on Democracy Senator Larissa Waters said: 

“The Government’s plan to think about having a plan will do nothing about the stranglehold big business has over our democracy.

“Australians feel like their needs and views don't matter, while they see big donors and lobbyists getting outcomes that suit the big end of town.

Big business is now running parliament and the Government is not even pretending to anymore, Greens Senator for Queensland and mining and resources spokesperson, Larissa Waters said.

“The Government has done another special deal for Adani in not making them comply with water laws,” she said.

“Adani has just gotten out of having to comply with water laws for a pipeline that will suck 12.5billion litres out of a river in a region that is crippled by drought.

The Greens will move to amend the Government’s bill introduced into the Lower House today for five days unpaid family and domestic violence leave, to give workers 10 days paid leave.

The Government must revoke Adani’s environmental approval to in light of serious allegations of environmental breaches, said Australian Greens Senator for Queensland, Larissa Waters

“Adani has shown complete disregard for environmental rules, here and overseas. How many more chances is the federal government going to give them?” said Senator Waters, Australian Greens spokesperson on mining and resources.

The Australian Greens today announced portfolio allocations for their Senators and MPs ahead of the upcoming Federal Election.

Australian Greens Leader Dr Richard Di Natale said a reallocation had occurred as a result of Mehreen Faruqi’s arrival in the Senate yesterday and Larissa Water’s imminent return.

“We’ve got to hold the big parties to account – and the Australian Greens Senate team will fight for the causes that matter to our community,” Dr Di Natale said.

“This new allocation of portfolios will make the most of each of our Senator’s strengths and passions."