New economic direction required

"The Greens welcome the Rudd government's planned investment in education, community and defence housing and energy efficiency programs. Taxpayers' money is much better spent on public services and infrastructure than it is on supporting big banks, big polluters and big developers," Senator Brown said.

"The Greens congratulate the Rudd government on adopting part of the Greens plan to retrofit Australian homes to reduce energy consumption.

"Insulating ceilings or installing solar hot water in Australians homes will reduce power bills for ordinary Australians, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and it will create jobs," Senator Brown said.

"The planned investment in public infrastructure - like schools and community and defence housing - is long overdue. The Greens will ensure that the school buildings and community housing are designed to be energy efficient. But the heatwaves across Melbourne and Adelaide have made it clear that trains, trams, rail tracks and buses are in dire need of investment as well.

"When times are tough, it is ordinary Australians who need to be supported - not the big end of town. The package should also include a permanent $30 a week increase to people on income support, including aged pensioners and the unemployed.

"Now, more than ever, is the time to be supporting working parents with a government-funded paid parental leave scheme and the Greens will move to ensure the needs of people who have missed out in the package are addressed in the May budget," Senator Brown said.

The Greens will ensure the interests of Australian taxpayers are fully taken into account when legislation is introduced to the Senate.

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