Australian Greens leader Dr Richard Di Natale has today reached across party lines to give notice of a co-sponsored bill that would overturn a 20 year old private member's bill by Kevin Andrews that banned the Northern Territory and ACT from legislating dying with dignity laws.

"This bill will help put dying with dignity legislation on the national agenda," said Dr Richard Di Natale.

"As a doctor, when someone gets a terminal diagnosis the feel very anxious about what their final days may bring - this legislation can give comfort at a time of great distress.

Australian Greens Leader Dr Richard Di Natale has today welcomed the passage of legislation to establish a national licensing scheme for the cultivation of medicinal cannabis.

“The Greens believe medicinal cannabis needs to be available to every patient who needs it and today we’ve seen the first piece of that puzzle pass into law,” said Senator Di Natale.

Australian Greens Leader Dr Richard Di Natale has been hosting a series of roundtables, including in Hobart, the Gold Coast, Sydney and Newcastle this week, with people working on the front lines of dealing with drug harm.

"Australia has one of the highest rates of illicit drug use in the world, despite our no tolerance policy. Treating drug use as a criminal matter, rather than a health matter, clearly isn't working," Senator Di Natale said.

Australian Greens Leader Dr Richard Di Natale today cautiously welcomed the government's bill to establish a national licensing scheme for the cultivation of medicinal cannabis but warned that it still falls short of delivering for patients.

"The Health Minister has labelled its medicinal cannabis legislation the ‘missing piece' when it is really just the first piece of the puzzle," said Senator Di Natale.

In light of the AMA's latest public hospital report card, the Greens are calling on the Turnbull Government to undo Tony Abbott's damage to our healthcare system, and not by lifting the GST.

"Tony Abbott's first budget ripped $50 billion dollars from hospitals over a decade and restarted the blame game between the federal and state governments. It was a ruse to pressure the states into supporting a higher GST," said Greens Leader Dr Richard Di Natale.

The Greens say the Turnbull Government has failed to deliver legal access to medicinal cannabis to Australians who've been expecting it by the end of this year.

"Patients need access to this medication, and they shouldn't have to break the law to get it," said Greens Leader Dr Richard Di Natale.

"The test of any medicinal cannabis legislation is whether it allows patients with medically approved conditions to legally and affordably access medicinal cannabis products through their doctor.

Australian Greens Leader Richard Di Natale says a review of private health insurance is sorely needed, but the best deal for Australians is a strong public health system.

"Health reform needs to start with properly resourcing our universal healthcare system rather than doing the bidding of the private health insurance industry," Dr Di Natale said.

"Australia risks moving toward a two-tiered, American-style system, where those who can't afford private insurance get second rate healthcare.

The Australian Greens have congratulated doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals for taking a strong stand against children in detention today.

"I left medicine to go into politics for the exact same reason that these health workers are making a stand today: we've got to fix the factors that make people sick. By locking up innocent people, denying them decent medical care and stripping them of all hope we are actively creating harm," said Greens Leader Dr Richard Di Natale.