Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown spoke to Ross Solly on 666ABC radio today after legislation which ensures the democratic rights of territory citizens won't be overturned at the whim of a federal minister passed federal parliament last night, the first Greens bill to become law.

Other topics included asylum seekers, Qantas and the Coalition, the delinking of the government's proposed tax break for big business from the watered-down mining tax legislation, and coal seam gas.

Australian Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown spoke to reporters at Senate doors today about the decoupling of legislation for the 1% tax break for big business from the government's watered down mining tax, and the Greens' policy to scrap the tax break for big business and instead give a 5% reduction to small business.

Other issues covered including support for the the Robin Hood tax and Qantas CEO Alan Joyce's appearance in front of the Senate Rural Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee coming up on Friday.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown and mining spokesperson Larissa Waters spoke to reporters in Canberra today about coal seam gas and water security. Other issues included Qantas, mining tax legislation, and Australia's vote against UNESCO's recognition of Palestine as an independent state.

Senator Waters will introduce a bill into the Senate today to protect the nation's water resources from mining, including coal seam gas.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown released figures today showing the big four banks alone will get a windfall of more than $4 billion from the proposed corporate tax cut associated with the Gillard Government's diminishing mining tax.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said today the Gillard Government should resist any moves to further weaken the mining tax as the tax is already a shadow of the Treasury recommended tax that the Greens urge the Government to adopt.

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 and Queensland Senator Larissa Waters joined Queensland Greens state election candidates Adam Stone and Dr Sandra Bayley, and Libby Connors of Queensland Rural and Regional Greens, today at the launch of the new television commercial against coal seam gas.

New figures released today show an alarming trend of rising wealth inequality as the benefits of the mining boom become increasingly concentrated among a small group of people, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

"The 20th century trend towards greater equality of incomes in Australia is being turned on its head, helped by very generous taxation arrangements which ensure that little can be set aside for the opportunities of the 21st century for the broader community," Senator Brown said.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown made the following remarks during the Environmental and Social Taxes session of the Tax Forum, on 4 October 2011:

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown welcomed the International Monetary Fund's call today for the Government to consider expanding the watered-down mining tax.

"The economic recovery is uneven and options available to the Government include broadening the coverage of the minerals resource rent tax beyond coal and iron ore, as the IMF so clearly states," Senator Brown said.