The Greens say today’s awarding of $21 million of public money to a private corporation to frack the Northern Territory will turbocharge climate collapse, threatens groundwater and goes against the wishes of Traditional Owners.

The money, taken from the $50 million Beetaloo Basin slush fund created by the Coalition and supported by Labor, will be given to Imperial Oil and Gas to drill three new gas wells.

On the one-year anniversary of the suicide of Christian Porter’s accuser the Greens have called on the government, One Nation and Senator Jacqui Lambie to do the right thing and support the first reading of a bill to create a Commission of Inquiry into Minister Porter’s ministerial fitness.

Lines attributable to Greens deputy leader and spokesperson on women Senator Larissa Waters:

“Today is a sad reminder of why we must have an independent inquiry into the allegations against former Attorney-General Christian Porter.

The move by the Coalition and Labor to permanently axe Senate motions is an attack on transparency and democracy that entrenches the big parties’ cosy duopoly, say the Greens.

Lines attributable to Greens deputy leader and leader in the Senate Larissa Waters:

“This is yet more Senate bastardry from the big parties. Today they gave the Senate late verbal notice that tomorrow they’ll gang up to permanently remove the rights of Senators to move and get a vote on motions.

The Greens have slammed the government’s knee-jerk climate denialism as the world delivers yet another stark warning that we risk losing the Great Barrier Reef.

Quotes attributable to Greens Leader, Adam Bandt:

“It’s coal or the reef, but you can’t have both. 

“The Great Barrier Reef is under threat because of the mining and burning of coal and gas. 

“We have ten years to save the Reef, but on the same day the Reef is put on death watch, Liberal and Labor support opening up new gas fields.

The Greens have renewed their call for publicly funded abortions after private service Marie Stopes announced yesterday it was shutting down four regional clinics in Queensland and New South Wales.

Lines attributable to Greens deputy leader and spokesperson on women Senator Larissa Waters:

“The news that Marie Stopes is shutting down four regional clinics in Queensland and New South Wales is a massive blow for women’s reproductive health. 

Lines attributable to Greens leader in the Senate and spokesperson on women Larissa Waters:

Lines attributable to Senator Larissa Waters:

The Greens say the Prime Minister has run out of excuses and can no longer continue to run cover for Christian Porter, now that he has discontinued his defamation action against the ABC.
 
Greens leader in the Senate and spokesperson on women Larissa Waters said:
 
“Mr Porter abandoning his defamation action against Louise Milligan and the ABC leaves serious allegations against him unexamined.
 

On World Menstrual Hygiene Day, the Greens have announced their plan to combat period poverty in Australia by providing free period products in all public primary and secondary schools. 
 
“Menstruation products should be free in schools, period,” Greens spokesperson for women Senator Larissa Waters said.
 
“Period products are a necessity, not a luxury: it's about bloody time we make them accessible to everyone, regardless of their income.