The Australian Greens welcome the Our Watch Awards for media reporting to end violence against women, announced by Rosie Batty at the National Press Club today.

“Rosie Batty has shown incredible bravery in sharing her story with the media in an effort to help other women and children,” Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and spokesperson for women, said.

The Australian Greens have long called for domestic violence leave and are disappointed at the big parties' failure to back the ACTU's proposal.

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

"It's deeply disappointing that both big parties appear to be rejecting the ACTU's proposal for domestic violence leave, championed by our brave, determined Australian of the Year, Rosie Batty.

"While Bill Shorten has made some noncommittal remarks, Labor is failing to back the desperately needed proposal.

The Australian Greens will keep up the pressure in the federal Parliament to make sure the tampon tax is removed, after Treasurer Hockey's commitment last night to raise this matter with the states. 

"GST should have never applied to tampons and pads in the first place," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens spokesperson for women, said.

Federal cuts to legal assistance funding will undermine efforts to tackle domestic violence, say the Australian Greens.

Legal assistance and domestic violence are two separate agenda items for tomorrow's Law, Crime and Community Safety Council Meeting, but the Australian Greens spokesperson for legal affairs Senator Penny Wright says they should be addressed together.

"If the Government is really genuine about addressing domestic violence, they need to fund the services out there helping people to understand their legal options and act on them," Senator Wright said.

The Abbott Government's budget does nothing  to help domestic violence victims and survivors and locks in many of last year's domestic violence funding cuts. 

"For all of the government's rhetoric about domestic violence, its budget is a missed opportunity to address this tragic national crisis," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens spokesperson for women, said.

"After the interim Senate Inquiry report, the Government  reversed some of the worst funding cuts to legal centres and extended a homelessness program for a limited period.

The Australian Greens are calling on the Abbott Government to reinstate funding for healthy relationships programs in schools or risk undermining the effectiveness of its new advertising campaign against domestic violence.

"The Abbott Government is giving with one hand and taking with the other when it comes to funding to change cultural attitudes of gender inequality that lead to domestic violence," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens spokesperson for women, said.   

With new analysis showing ASX200 companies with more women on their boards outperform those with less or none, the Australian Greens are calling for government to get on board.

Launching the Infinitas and Centre for Gender Economics and Innovation Gender Index in Sydney today, Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens spokesperson for women, said:

"Today's analysis shows more women on boards are not only good for gender equality but also for business.

Australian Greens spokesperson for legal affairs Senator Penny Wright says the Government should not stop at reversing cuts to the legal assistance sector, but look at increasing funding in the upcoming budget.

"Legal assistance services were operating on a shoe-string budget before the Attorney-General's cuts," Senator Wright said.

"Today's policy reversal is extremely welcome, but this should only be the beginning. The Productivity Commission's recent report said $200 million more was required just to address urgent need."