In response to the latest Four Corners episode detailing how patients in the private health system can face massive out-of-pocket costs, Australian Greens Leader Dr Richard Di Natale today called on Health Minister Greg Hunt to help tackle high out-of-pocket health costs through ensuring transparency of practitioner fees, as recommended in a 2017 Senate Inquiry chaired by the Greens.

I want to thank Lee Rhiannon for her many years of dedicated service to the people of New South Wales and to the Greens during her time as an elected representative.

Lee has devoted her life to fighting for a better world and particularly to giving a voice for communities fighting oppression across the globe.

Lee has made a significant contribution in improving our democracy through political donations reform, as well as advancing animal welfare.

Greens Leader Dr Richard Di Natale today welcomed reports that the Northern Territory Government is considering removing criminal penalties for personal cannabis use and called for a national approach for drug law reform, including legalising cannabis for adult use and removing criminal penalties for all personal drug use.

The Australian Greens today ruled out supporting both the Coalition and Labor’s personal tax cuts, calling for greater public investment in essential services instead.

“These income tax cut are nothing more than a bribe to try get their massive company tax cuts over the line. People on minimum wage won’t even see $4 a week, with the wealthiest Australians benefiting the most. 

Leader of the Australian Greens Dr Richard Di Natale today condemned the Israeli military’s killing of more than 50 Palestinians upon the opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem. 

“The Australian Greens condemn in the strongest possible terms this latest example of the Israeli military’s excessive use of force,” Senator Di Natale said.

“Yesterday marked the deadliest day in Gaza since the 2014 war, with more than 50 Palestinians killed.

“Rarely do budgets give us such stark choices about what kind of future we want for our country, but this one surely does. We have a clear choice between the Liberals’ selfish, dog-eat-dog worldview or a more caring society where we look after each other,” Dr Richard Di Natale said.

“Under the Government’s radical US-style tax plan, a hedge fund manager on $200,000 gets 10 times the tax cut as the person who trims the hedges around his mansion. 

“We have a progressive tax system in Australia but now we have a fight ahead of us to keep it.

The end to live sheep exports within two years is now within reach if Labor and the cross bench back the Greens bill to transition out of live animal exports within 2 years.

The Animal Export Legislation Amendment (Ending Long‑haul Live Sheep Exports) Bill 2018 will be introduced into parliament next week and sets out a two year transition plan to achieve a complete prohibition on the export of live sheep by long-haul sea voyages.



The Australian Greens will today launch their '5-Point Plan to End Cruelty and Expand Jobs' that would quickly transition the live sheep export trade to a boxed, chilled meat trade processed locally.

The plan has the backing of the Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union (AMIEU).

Greens Leader Dr Richard Di Natale will today announce the party’s plan to legalise cannabis for adult use. Dr Di Natale said our current approach to drugs in this country is an unmitigated disaster and that it is time for real reform.

“The war on drugs has failed. Governments around the world are realising that prohibition of cannabis causes more harm than it prevents. It’s time Australia joined them and legalised cannabis for adult use,” Dr Di Natale said.

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.