The Australian Greens today expressed grave concern over the decision of the US, UK and French Governments to launch strikes against targets in Syria. Greens Leader Senator Richard Di Natale reiterated the Greens' call for the Australian Government to rethink the US alliance. 
 
“The violence and suffering in Syria is appalling, and the use of chemical weapons is an abomination," Senator Di Natale said. 

"But we don’t need a barrage of missiles. This action risks dangerous escalation in a very complex and volatile war.

Greens Leader Dr Richard Di Natale today called on the Australian Government to break its silence over the killing of 17 Palestinians late last week by the Israeli military.

“The vast majority of those participating in the March of Return to mark Land Day were protesting non-violently. The use of live fire and lethal force was clearly disproportionate and very likely illegal,” Dr Di Natale said.

Greens Leader Senator Richard Di Natale today said the Liberal government's failure to secure the votes needed to pass its Trump-like company tax cuts means they're dead in the water. Finance Minister Mathias Cormann confirmed in the Senate earlier this evening that they have only managed to secure 37 votes and that the legislation will not be brought before the Senate until later this year.  

"Malcolm Turnbull and his government's Trump-like company tax cuts are dead in the water," Senator Di Natale said.

The Coalition Government has not consulted its own Drug and Alcohol Advisory Committee – The Australian National Advisory Council on Alcohol and Drugs (ANACAD) - about its latest plans to drug test income support recipients, it was revealed at estimates today. Leader of the Australian Greens Dr Richard Di Natale said It was clear that the Coalition didn't ask their own experts because they didn't want the truth: that this plan is cruel, wasteful and will make the problem worse.

Following Barnaby Joyce's resignation as Nationals Leader, Greens Leader Senator Richard Di Natale has called for any new agreement between the Liberals and the Nationals to be made public. 

"Barnaby Joyce has finally done what he should have done weeks ago and resigned as Leader of the Nationals," Senator Di Natale said. 

"Instead of resigning when serious allegations of wrongdoing were made public weeks ago, he's acted in his own self interest in an attempt to cling onto power.

*692 Senators Di Natale and Rhiannon: To move—That the Senate—

(a) notes:

Senator Richard Di Natale, leader of the Australian Greens and Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, said the Australian Greens remain deeply concerned at the recent crackdown on dissent in Iran, with official reports of at least 22 protesters killed and more than 1,000 Iranians detained.

“As a State Party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Iran must uphold its citizens rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression”, Senator Di Natale said.

The Turnbull Government's end-of-year mini budget is mean-spirited, wringing savings out of young people, struggling families and newly arrived migrants in order to keep funding tax cuts to their wealthy mates from the big end of town.

“The Turnbull Government has got just that little bit meaner with today’s budget, which unfairly targets young people, struggling families and newly arrived migrants with $6 billion in cuts,” said leader of the Australian Greens Dr Richard Di Natale.

Leader of the Australian Greens Dr Richard Di Natale today released draft laws aimed at protecting multiculturalism in Australia. Speaking at the Migration Institute of Australia’s national conference, Di Natale released a draft copy of the Australian Multicultural Bill 2017, which enacts one of the key recommendations of the report of the Senate Select Committee on Strengthening Multiculturalism established by the Greens earlier this year.