Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Larissa Waters, comments on the International Monetary Fund's estimate of global fossil fuel subsidies:

"It's staggering that governments around the world are propping up the dying fossil fuel industry to the tune of $5.3 trillion each year.

"This equates to $10 million a minute every day of ordinary taxpayers' money being funnelled into worsening climate change.

"Governments could be investing that money into reducing poverty, instead of propping up big mining companies and holding up the transition to renewable energy.

The Abbott Government has failed to rule out investing taxpayer money in Galilee Basin coal from its $5 billion Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility.

Watch the response to Australian Greens Deputy Leader Senator Larissa Waters’ question in Senate Question time today: http://youtu.be/HGf_iOQvJuw

With expert evidence tabled in the Land Court in Brisbane being heard today that Adani will likely pay no corporate tax in Australia, the Australian Greens are calling for the Carmichael coal mine approval to be overturned.

"It's clear from the evidence that one of two things will happen, both of which would mean Adani pays no corporate tax in Australia," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens mining spokesperson, said.

The Abbott Government's plan to remove tax deductibility of donations to environment groups would devastate environment protection, heard the Senate Inquiry into the government's environment attacks at the first hearing in Brisbane today.

"One in five Australians donate to environment groups - their generosity and altruism should be rewarded by government," Queensland Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens environment spokesperson, who established the Inquiry, said.

Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens environment spokesperson, comments on the Abbott Government excluding Environmental Defenders Offices from its reversal of funding cuts to community legal centres:
"The Abbott Government is adding insult to injury by leaving out EDO from its announcement about funding cut reversals.
"Grassroots community groups face a David and Goliath battle in trying to protect their land, water and climate from big coal and gas.

The Nationals, Labor and the Liberals have voted against the Australian Greens' motion to put food security and water ahead of coal seam gas.

"On the Q and A program this week, Nationals Senator Fiona Nash refused to answer whether she would cross the floor on coal seam gas," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens mining spokesperson, said.

"Today Senator Nash gave her answer by failing to cross the floor and instead voting against the Greens' motion to put food security and water ahead of coal seam gas.

The Australian Greens will give the Nationals the opportunity to cross the floor on coal seam gas, with a Senate motion for vote tomorrow (Thursday).

"The Nationals say one thing in the community and then do another in Parliament," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens mining spokesperson, said.

"On the Q and A program this week, Nationals Senator Fiona Nash wouldn't answer whether she would cross the floor for a vote on CSG because she said it was a hypothetical question.

The Australian Greens are calling for urgent climate action based on advice by Professor Terry Hughes, co-author of new research in Science on poor management of World Heritage areas, including the Great Barrier Reef.

"The Abbott and Palaszczuk governments need to take heed of this serious warning from one of the world's leading coral reef scientists," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens environment spokesperson, said.

"Based on the science, the choice is simple - coal or the Reef?

The federal Nationals today again deserted the Senate chamber to avoid voting on a Greens' motion putting forward the Victorian Nationals' recent policy position that landholders should have the right to say no to CSG on their land.

"The Greens, at every level, in every state and territory, have a long track record of fighting for landholders to have the right to say no to CSG to protect their land, water and climate," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens mining spokesperson, said.