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.

1 September marks one year since the Australian Greens signed an historic agreement with Prime Minister Julia Gillard's Labor Government.

The Gillard agreement has achieved outcomes for Australians in terms of passage of bills and lack of confrontation between the houses. We have consultation instead of confrontation.

Australian Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown today released a report that confirms the compromise reached between the Government and the three biggest mining companies will see everyday Australians forgo tens of billions of dollars in revenue.

"The Mineral Resource Rent Tax will generate between $73 billion and $115 billion less revenue over 9 years than the original Resources Super Profits Tax recommended by Treasury", said Senator Brown.

Australian Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown held a press conference to discuss the volume of public support for an Inquiry into media regulation and ownership in Australia.

Australian Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown today held a press conference to discuss moves for a full Senate or Independent Inquiry into media ownership and regulation in Australia.

Australian Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown today announced moves for a full Senate or Independent Inquiry into media ownership and regulation in Australia.

“While there have not been any allegations of unlawful or unethical behaviour by any of Australia's newspapers similar to that which resulted in the closure of News of the World, the potential for such behaviour and the breadth of the allegations in the UK indicates it is timely for a closer look at Australia's media regulation,” said Senator Brown.

An Inquiry would consider:

Senator Bob Brown

I give notice that on the next day of sitting I shall move that:

That the Minister for Communications investigate the direct or indirect ramifications to Australia of the criminal matters affecting the United Kingdom operations of News International, and report back to the Senate.

Transcript is after the break

Ladies and Gentlemen

I acknowledge the traditional owners of the Canberra region and all the Indigenous people of Australia.

This Friday, 1 July, is the 28th anniversary of the High Court judgement which stopped the Franklin Dam. But in the preceding week of 1983, Tasmania recorded the lowest temperatures in history. It snowed heavily to sea level. The bulldozers in the Franklin and Gordon Valley were stopped. So, Mother Nature got into the act ahead of the High Court!