Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown speaks to reporters in Hobart today about constitutional recognition for local government and the need for the Government to withstand further pressure on its already watered down mining tax.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown today called for community participation in the process of developing a referendum to recognise and protect local government, calling on Tasmanians to attend tonight's meeting in Launceston to have their say.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown says that the ombudsman, a decent man working in the public interest, has been politically assassinated.

"The Government went after this good man, egged on by the Liberals. His ‘crime' was to supply non-political questions - rather than answers - to Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, as a means of getting information on the public record," Senator Brown said in Brisbane.

"This unfair, nasty outcome shows that an apology for a mistake, far from being encouraged as part of political life in Canberra, will seal your fate."

Australian Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown was on 774 ABC Mornings with Jon Faine to discuss the attempts by the government to silence the Commonwealth Ombudsman.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown and Immigration spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young spoke to journalists in Canberra today about the Commonwealth Ombudsman and the public’s right to information, Migration Act amendments, and the passage yesterday of the carbon package legislation.

Following a request from the Senate's Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, the Commonwealth Ombudsman has released extensive documentation about the Ombudsman's role, activities and outcomes, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown and Immigration spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young said today.

The Australian Greens opposed legislation, in both houses of parliament, which is now leading to massive increases in politicians' pay, Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

"Both of the major parties pushed the legislation through, in both houses, while the Greens opposed it," Senator Brown said in Sydney.

"The legislation tries to shed the politician's responsibility for any forbearance in the pay increases."

"The big parties' MPs remain responsible for these massive increases."

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown speaks about CEO salaries, pokies reform, election readiness, the forests intergovernmental agreement, and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott's visit to Tasmania.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown and Immigration spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young today met with Immigration Secretary Andrew Metcalfe, department officials and Senator Kate Lundy.

"A robust discussion ensued," Senator Brown said in Canberra. "I explained that comments as reported had been very damaging."

Denison MHR Andrew Wilkie's warning (The Australian, 12/9/2011) that he will vote against any media inquiry which ‘smacks of politics', smacks of politics, Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

"He should put up his own terms," Senator Brown said.

"The Greens proposal includes an examination of the concentration of media ownership, and its impact, and the adequacy of self-regulation of ethical standards."