Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown, Deputy Leader Christine Milne and Tasmanian Greens Leader Nick McKim outline prospects for an economic transition in Tasmania. Other issues discussed with reporters in Hobart included Labor leadership speculation. Senator Brown also reiterated the Greens' total opposition to the Nauru option and called for asylum seekers to be processed quickly and humanely onshore.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown today expressed great sadness about the ferry tragedy in Papua New Guinea.

"The Greens join all Australians in offering condolences to the family and friends of people missing from the MV Rabaul Queen. We hope that the more than 100 missing persons are found safe, but we understand that this is looking less hopeful."

Senator Brown applauded the steps taken to respond to the tragedy by the Australian Government but reiterated his calls for a regional disaster centre to be established in northern Australia.

While bushwalking in Tasmania during his summer break, Senator Bob Brown today said: "I have always vociferously opposed the Three Capes Walk proposal from the Tasmania and federal governments."

"If Barry Prismall of The Examiner doesn't know the difference between a consultant's report and political opinion, after years working for the Liberal party, he should.

"Tasmania's 1,700 km of walking tracks are disgracefully under-funded and the Commonwealth should be putting $30 million in there for a much better economic return."

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown, speaking to journalists in Hobart today, expressed his disappointment at the government's cave-in on pokies and outlined the Greens' legislation to be introduced when parliament resumes, opening up an avenue for reform and help for those addicted to gambling.

Senator Brown reminded the Prime Minister of his very clear message about her very public commitment to protect Tasmania's majestic forests.

Despite the collapse of the talks between the Prime Minister and Andrew Wilkie, the Greens will promote the $1 bet option for poker-machine reform, Australian Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown said today.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown today launched an analysis of Tasmania's economic potential which finds 3000 jobs could be created from the $120 million fund promised in the intergovernmental forest agreement.
"This fund has the potential to create more than 3000 jobs in regional areas which would largely replace the 3500 jobs lost from forestry since 2008," Senator Brown said.
"But this money will only flow if there is a strong conservation legislative outcome by June this year.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown, speaking in Hobart today, launches a report into the jobs potential of the Tasmanian Forests Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA), along with the report's authors Naomi Edwards and Jamie Hanson. 

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown today launched an analysis of Tasmania's economic potential which finds 3000 jobs could be created from the $120 million fund promised in the intergovernmental forest agreement.

"This fund has the potential to create more than 3000 jobs in regional areas which would largely replace the 3500 jobs lost from forestry since 2008," Senator Brown said.

"But this money will only flow if there is a strong conservation legislative outcome by June this year.

The Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples has now delivered its recommendations.

In late 2010, the Prime Minister appointed a 20 member Expert Panel to provide advice on the Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as part of the agreement with the Australian Greens.