Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown has renewed his call for Australia to
resource a regional disaster centre as the Prime Minister moves another
step in that direction.

Senator Brown said the Australian centre would help ensure integrated
civilian and defence forces aid got to the sites of disasters like
tsunamis, cyclones, fires and earthquakes within hours rather than days.

In light of growing concern about the conditions which asylum seekers
wanting to come to Australia will face in Indonesian detention camps,
the Prime Minister should seek assurances from Jakarta that clear
humanitarian ground rules are established.

The Lowy Institute poll showing a 23 per cent increase since 2006 in affection for the United States is also the key to the fall (14 per cent since 2008) of alarm about the critical threat climate change poses for Australia, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown today announced that the Greens had secured $5.8m for nine heritage projects in Tasmania from a $60m heritage fund negotiated as part of the stimulus package passed by the Senate in February this year.

"The Greens proposed this special purpose heritage fund as part of a $400m local green jobs package in return for our support for the $42b stimulus package," Senator Brown said.

"Not only did the Greens, with the government, stop a recession in Australia, we have also delivered these job rich heritage projects for Tasmania."

The Greens will move quickly to select a candidate in the Higgins by-election, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

"I expect the Greens will announce a strong candidate by October 24 to give
voters in Higgins a genuine alternative. This will coincide with the Green New Deal conference in Melbourne."

"The Greens will take up the fight against the coalition. Prime Minister Rudd should commit the Labor party to putting forward a candidate. A repeat of the situation in Bradfield would be an insult to the voters of Higgins as well."

By manipulating their resignation dates, the coalition MPs Peter Costello and Brendan Nelson may deny the voters of Higgins and Bradfield crucial representation when the emissions trading scheme is debated next month, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown says former Prime Minister John Howard's call for more Australian troops to be sent to Afghanistan is yet another miscalculation.

"In 2002, President Bush's decision to invade Iraq, backed by John Howard, effectively allowed the Taliban to consolidate again in Afghanistan."

"In 2009, Australia's troops should not be sent in bigger numbers to remedy that mistake. Our troops should be brought home."

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown says that the Coalition Senators who have used their majority on the Senate Economics Committee to delay hearing from Treasury Secretary Ken Henry on the $42 billion stimulus package have failed in their obligation to Australia.

An expanded World Heritage Area would become Tasmania's tourism backbone, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said today in Hobart.

"This is Tasmania's globally-celebrated asset, it is what sets us especially apart and it offers us huge future economic and employment rewards," Senator Brown said.

The Greens will oppose the mooted MPs' pay rise until battlers get an income boost too.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown says he will move in the Senate to disallow the Remuneration Tribunal's proposed 2.25 percent pay rise until economic circumstances improve for the nation.

"We applaud the Prime Minister's rejection of an increase last year. But after the Fair Pay Commission refused low income earners any increase this July, now is not the time for members of parliament to take more," Senator Brown said.

Media contact: Peter Stahel 0433 005 727