Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said today that $2.5 billion per annum is a much lower-than-expected cost for free tertiary education. The figure is part of a Senate release of information which the Greens supported.

"It is everybody's right in this great country of ours in the 21st century to get a tertiary education. We should go for it.  It is a long-held Greens policy and we will be pursuing it strongly," Senator Brown said in Hobart.

At this National Press Club I acknowledge the traditional owners of the Canberra region and all the Indigenous people of our nation.

This year will be another milestone in politics for the Australian Greens. The sole balance of power in the Senate and a breakthrough into the House of Representatives are both within reach. Australia's voters are looking for more progressive politics and the stable, experienced leadership which we alone have produced over the past three turbulent years in Canberra.

The Australian Greens will push the federal government to provide a significant funding boost for public schools to ensure they set the benchmark for education standards said Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown at the national Public Education Forum in Canberra today.

Announcing two initiatives to provide new funding aimed to address the crisis in teaching and school resources, Senator Brown said that the Australian Greens would campaign in the lead up to the federal election and afterwards in the Senate to ensure every child has access to a high quality education.

Contrary to Labor spin, the Australian Greens' support for the Rudd government's $42 billion economic stimulus package has resulted in Tasmanian schools, including the Catholic and independent schools sharing in $439 millions for new classrooms, libraries and other amenities.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said that the Liberals opposed the package outright.

"But the Greens got it through the Senate," Senator Brown said.

Greens Leader Bob Brown has released a letter from Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard outlining measures to ensure thousands of low-income university students get the $950 student payment in this week's government economic stimulus package.

The Government and the Greens have agreed to amendments to the $42 billion economic stimulus package, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

"We have improved this package to create thousands of green jobs in communities across Australia," Senator Brown said.

"These involve approximately half a billion dollars and will create thousands of local green jobs and provide greater assistance to unemployed and low-income Australians."

Today Bob gave notice that he will re-introduce the Protecting Children from Junk Food Advertising (Broadcasting Amendment) Bill 2008, to ban junk food advertising during children's TV viewing hours. The bill was first introduced by Democrats Senator Lyn Allison.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown today gave notice that he will re-introduce the Democrats' Protecting Children from Junk Food Advertising (Broadcasting Amendment) Bill 2008 to ban junk food advertising during children's TV viewing hours.

"Access Economics estimates the cost of obesity to the community is $58 billion a year. Only 1 per cent of food advertising promotes healthy food. The other 99 per cent promotes fast food, soft drinks, ice cream and other junk food," Senator Brown said.

Greens Leader Bob Brown will move an amendment to the Communications Legislation Amendments (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2008 (CLAMM) in the senate today, banning junk food advertising during children's TV viewing hours.
"The Greens' amendment will introduce a national ban on junk food advertising during children's television. The current advertising regulations are inadequate and no longer meet community needs or standards," Senator Brown said.