Greens Leader Bob Brown, along with local residents and organisations, has made a submission to the Marine Planning Panel’s review of Tassal’s request to expand its Soldiers Point salmon farm, which held a public hearing in Hobart today.

“Many of these submissions expressed serious concerns about antibiotic use, damage to the marine environment, sustainability and noise. However, the planning authority’s written response to these submissions had too little scientific basis and too much unsubstantiated opinion," Senator Brown said.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown today congratulated Sea Shepherd Conservation Society for its victory over the Japanese whale hunters in Antarctic waters.

"Sea Shepherd and other campaigners have achieved a great victory," Senator Brown said.

"The tide has turned in Japan," Senator Brown said, after Japanese Fisheries Minister Michihiko Kano announced today that this season's whale hunt was over.

"Let's hope February 9th 2011 goes down in history as the day that the last whale was slaughtered in Antarctic waters."

"We must all remain vigilant."

Japan's slaughter of Antarctic whales seems to be in its death throes, Greens Leader Bob Brown said in Canberra today.

After speaking with Sea Shepherd's Captain Paul Watson, Senator Brown described the behaviour of the whaling fleet factory shop Nisshin Maru as "bizarre".

Nisshin Maru has re-entered the Pacific Ocean from the Drake Passage south of South America. 

"It is either headed home to Tokyo or will take a week to rejoin its three idle whale catcher ships now in the Ross Sea."

Dams can increase the risk of flooding and impose irreversible changes that damage forests, wetlands, fisheries and farmland, nor should the devastating Queensland floods cause any delay to Murray-Darling reforms, Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

"Dams may prevent smaller floods but can increase damage during exceptionally large floods when severe weather events cause a sudden release of water," Senator Brown said.

"Tony Abbott's plan is ill-conceived."

"Australia's flood history shows that major floods can top dams built in their way."

Greens Leader Bob Brown said today his aim is to give Australia progressive and prosperous governance in 2011, beginning with work towards a Gillard government carbon price to tackle global warming, stimulate the economy and generate new business opportunities.

"Amid more extreme weather events, which are occurring more frequently, the new year gives Australians a chance to think beyond ‘sides' and embrace effective, innovative and green ways of building a future for the developed economy that is most at risk from global warming," Senator Brown said.

Greens Leader Bob Brown today urged the Australian government to at least conduct aerial surveillance of the Southern Ocean, after Japanese whalers doubled their hunting area.

"I spoke to the Japanese ambassador in Canberra yesterday, offering the opinion that this is criminal behaviour in the Australian Antarctic Territory," Senator Brown said.