The Australian Greens will support the flood levy in the House of Representatives and the Senate after important gains from the Government on their proposed funding cuts.

Greens Leader Bob Brown, Deputy Leader Christine Milne and MP Adam Bandt took their concerns directly to the government and negotiated a good outcome that will release funding for flood recovery and protect key programs.

The Australian Greens will support the flood levy in the House of Representatives and the Senate after important gains from the Government on their proposed funding cuts, Greens Leader Bob Brown, Deputy Leader Christine Milne and MP Adam Bandt said in Canberra today.

“The Greens have taken our concerns directly to the government and have negotiated a good outcome that will release funding for flood recovery and protect key programs,” Senator Brown said.

Following his meeting with Prime Minister Julia Gillard yesterday, Senator Bob Brown spoke about the flood levy, the imminent cyclone in Queensland, and the Greens' proposal for a High-Speed Rail link between Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne.

Greens Leader Bob Brown has expressed delight at the Gillard government’s progress towards Australia getting high-speed rail (see Sydney Morning Herald today).

The Greens have led the national campaign for high-speed rail and in the run to the last election, both Labor and the Coalition backed a study for the Brisbane-Newcastle-Sydney-Canberra-Melbourne link.

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.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown says he's received preliminary legal advice that emergency heritage listing of the Jordan River levee should stop the proposed Brighton bypass going ahead.

"Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke has noted that the heritage values of the levee are under significant threat," Senator Brown said in Hobart today.

"It is illegal to cause significant impact on a listed site - to do so results in large penalties.