At today's hearing into Tasmanian Senator Bob Brown's bill to improve community consultation into towers built by telecommunications carriers, the Local Government Association's Adrian Beresford-Wylie said local government wanted the right to accept or reject proposals.

"The distress caused by towers being foisted on communities with little notice will not be met by the new code of practice the industry now proposes," Senator Brown said.

After a campaign from the Australian Greens, on 14 September 2011 the Australian Government established an independent inquiry into the Australian media. The inquiry was led by former Justice of the Federal Court of Australia, Mr Ray Finkelstein QC. The inquiry reported to government on 28 February 2012.

Many media outlets have failed to accurately report the findings and recommendations of the inquiry.

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.

Bob Brown discusses the Tasmanian forests agreement and support for protests to ensure it's enacted as promised, the Remuneration Tribunal review into MPs' salaries, the interim report of the media convergence review and speculation on Tasmanian ALP leadership ructions.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown responds to the Gillard Government's budget update and outlines the Greens' more responsible approach. Speaking to reporters in Canberra, Senator Brown also answered questions about the Gold Pass, the Murray Darling Basin plan and immigration.

"The Gillard Government's plan to balance the books by imposing a higher ‘efficiency dividend', a tired euphemism for public sector cuts, is short-sighted and driven by political constraints," Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

A Senate inquiry into the government’s response to citizens kidnapped overseas has recommended eight measures to improve communication and coordination in future cases, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

“I referred this matter to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade committee following the release of photojournalist Nigel Brennan who was held hostage in Somalia for 14 months,” Senator Brown said.

The Australian Greens will introduce new legislation on Monday to protect children from junk food advertising, after the Gillard Government and the Opposition wasted an opportunity earlier this year when they blocked Greens legislation despite public support for the Bill and recommendations from health experts.

"We have a burgeoning health crisis of childhood obesity and need to curb the relentless advertising of unhealthy foods to children," Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said in Melbourne.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown will today invite the Senate to support the Book Industry Strategy Group's recommendation for books to be exempt from GST, bringing Australia into line with most other OECD countries including source countries for many of the books bought online.

Australian Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown appeared on ABC News Breakfast to discuss the political budget surplus, the Afghanistan conflict, dental care, preferencing of votes, and the Australian Greens National Conference.