The Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility criteria, released by the Turnbull Government today, fail to rule out the $5 billion facility becoming a slush fund for big mining companies.

Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and mining spokesperson, said the draft criteria do not consider environmental, cultural or social impacts.

The Palaszczuk Government's reported plans to give the Minister more power to influence the outcomes of mining disputes in the Land Court and stifle community rights to uphold environment law are an attack on democracy.  

Queensland Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and environment spokesperson, said:

"Minister Lynham already has the final say on mining applications and Queensland's Land Court can only make a recommendation to the Minister.  But even this doesn't seem to be enough. 

The Australian Greens are calling for Queensland Resources Council CEO Michael Roche to be sacked, following his inappropriate and insensitive statements about George Bender's death today.

Qld Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens mining spokesperson, said:

"George Bender's daughter, Helen, has pledged to carry on her father's fight to protect farmland from CSG, yet Michael Roche has taken it upon himself to disparage the movement that George inspired.

Evidence in the Dalby Magistrates Court that Linc Energy workers were told to eat yoghurt to stop the burning effects of pollution from its coal gasification project on the Darling Downs is outrageous.

"This is an absolute disgrace," Qld Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader said.

"How outrageous that Linc Energy allegedly knowingly put their workers' health at risk and that of people in the surrounding community.

The Australian Greens congratulate Bruce Currie, Galilee Basin grazier, for standing up for his water and livelihood by legally challenging the Kevin's Corner coal mine.

"It's a disgrace that Mr Currie has to go to court to protect his water and livelihood," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and climate change spokesperson, said.

"The Turnbull and Palaszczuk governments are giving big mining companies priority over Queensland's precious groundwater, even though we're in drought.

With Glencore foreshadowing coal mine closures and Alinta set to shut a coal mine and coal-fired power stations in South Australia, the Australian Greens are calling on the big parties to provide alternatives for coal workers.

 Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and mining spokesperson, said:

"The Greens have set out a plan to urgently secure the funding for mine rehabilitation jobs for coal workers, and we have announced an ambitious science-driven target of 90% clean energy by 2030.

The old-party dominated Senate Inquiry into the Greens' bill to give landholders the right to say no to coal and gas and to ban fracking has recommended not passing the bill, despite strong community support.  

Queensland Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and mining spokesperson, said:

"This is a deeply disappointing outcome after the Inquiry heard from hundreds of people and organisations, with 95 per cent of them supporting the bill.

The Greens condemn moves by the Palaszczuk Government to stick with the Newman Government's plan to give big mining companies free water at the expense of the environment and agriculture.

Qld Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and mining spokesperson, said:

"Pushing ahead with Campbell Newman's plan to let big mining companies suck up as much groundwater as they want for free, without community rights to object, would be a shameful breach of an election promise from Labor.

• New industry report confirms global coal demand in terminal structural decline
• Taxpayers and state governments will be left with a mine clean-up bill worth billions of dollars
• Greens release plan to transition thousands of jobs and fund rehabilitation costs

The Greens have today released a plan to deal with the structural decline in Australia's coal export sector, in response to a report from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis that confirms the sector is in terminal decline.

The Australian Greens are urging the Senate to block the Abbott Government's bill to gut public enforcement of environment law now being debated in the Lower House.

Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and environment and climate change spokesperson, said:

"Tony Abbott and George Brandis want to put big mining companies above the law and stop Australians who care about the environment and climate from upholding the law.