We should encourage, not vilify, the attempt by concerned citizens to make the mining public policy debate less lop-sided, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

"We see full page ads coming from the mining billionaires at the moment, proving the point about vested interests throwing their weight around and skewing public policy. There is a lopsided public discourse going on. The green groups are adding balance. Good on them," Senator Brown said in Sydney.

Australia should secure its future with a fair dinkum mining tax, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

"Treasurer Wayne Swan is right. Australia's fair go is under threat," Senator Brown said in Hobart.

"Australia can fund its education needs - including the $5 billion proposed by the Gonski review, health services, public transport, a national dental program and high speed rail. There is an additional $100 billion available over the next 10 years if we implement the original super-profits tax," Senator Brown said.

Australian Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown has welcomed news of putative Foreign Minister Bob Carr’s intention to visit New Zealand.

Senator Brown called on Mr Carr to advance on recent talks Senator Brown held with former Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd to seek the Key Government’s backing for a World Heritage nomination for Antarctica.

“I expect Mr Carr might also use his environmental credentials to promote the kiwi plan for a 3.6m square kilometre marine national park off Australia’s Ross Sea ice shelf, “ Senator Brown said

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown today welcomed the Independent Inquiry into Media and Media Regulation undertaken by former Justice of the Federal Court of Australia, Mr Ray Finkelstein QC, with the assistance of Dr Matthew Ricketson.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown has welcomed Bob Carr's nomination for the Foreign Ministry but says he is wrong to want Australia's troops kept in Afghanistan.

"As a new broom, Mr Carr ought to begin by extracting our troops, to bringing them home from the mire in Afghanistan this year," Senator Brown said.

"I look forward to having a foreign minister in the Senate and congratulate the other new appointees of Prime Minister Gillard.

"The elevation of small business to cabinet is a good call," Senator Brown said.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown and Senator for Queensland Larissa Waters spoke to reporters in Canberra today about the government's support for making the Great Barrier reef a rubbish dump and called for action in the public interest from the media inquiry report due out today.

The looming Cabinet reshuffle, including hopes for an effective environment minister, and the need to inform the public about the power of lobbyists were among other topics discussed.

Forestry Tasmania is a rogue agency which is planning to siphon million of dollars from the Intergovernmental Agreement on Tasmania's forests signed by Prime Minister Gillard and Premier Giddings last August, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

The Committee of Privileges has agreed to the request of Australian Greens Senators Bob Brown and Christine Milne and today released their lawyers' submissions on the referral about allegations originating from Liberal Senators Eric Abetz, George Brandis and Helen Kroger alleging corruption.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown, speaking to reporters in Canberra, today condemned rogue agency Forestry Tasmania for its treacherous attempt to manipulate the local Indigenous community and further undermine the Intergovernmental Agreement on Forestry.

Other matters raised by journalists included ALP shenanigans and the media inquiry's report due for release tomorrow.

Labor and the Coalition have blocked the Greens' move to reveal what assistance Lynas Corporation got for its rare earths plant in Malaysia, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

"Despite ongoing and passionate public protests in Malaysia, not least over the prospect of radioactive by-products, Australia's old parties have closed ranks and the government's files on this internationally contentious issue," Senator Brown said.

Senator Brown had moved:

That the Senate-

(a) notes: