The momentum to gain an increase for Australia's 1.2 million pensioners seems to be at a peak, with all political parties, except Labor, now supporting at least a $30 rise.

Dr Brendan Nelson this week will introduce to Parliament, a private members bill that will seek to raise the single aged pension by $30 a week.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown will move in the Senate this week that the government legislate to increase pensions and, in particular, for an immediate rise of $30 per week for single aged pensioners.

'This, if passed, will be an effective invitation to the government to take immediate action while considering across-the-board increases for pensioners and carers. It will not affect the Coalition's proposal for a bill for a $30 increase but will send another, faster message to Treasurer Swan," Senator Brown said.

The Australian Greens would support a bill which raises the single aged pension by $30 a week, but called on the Coalition to explain how it would get around the fact that it is in Opposition in the Lower House and, therefore, cannot get such a bill through either the House of Representatives, or the Senate.

"All of Australia is calling for a fair go for pensioners - but Mr Rudd is keeping his wallet in his back pocket and refusing to increase the pension, even when he acknowledges it is just too low to live on," Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

The comments from ministers, who say they could not live on the pension of $273 per week provided to 1.2 million Australians, but who will offer no extra money for at least 9 months, are cruel Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown said today.

"This is the indifference to deprivation which people don't like to see from governments, not least Labor governments. John Howard was indifferent for 12 years. But Kevin Rudd should act now. After all, Treasurer Swan allocated $31 billion for tax breaks over three years in this year's budget," Senator Brown said.

The Treasurer has failed to respond to a Greens motion which called for an immediate increase in the single aged pension, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

The Greens motion, moved by Senator Rachel Siewert and supported by the Senate on 1 September, called on the Treasurer

'to raise, as a priority measure, the single aged pension to reflect the cost of living for pensioners is in excess of the consumer price index and that pensioners deserve immediate relief.'

Today Bob gave notice that he will re-introduce the Protecting Children from Junk Food Advertising (Broadcasting Amendment) Bill 2008, to ban junk food advertising during children's TV viewing hours. The bill was first introduced by Democrats Senator Lyn Allison.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd should immediately increase the single aged pension by $30 a week, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

"Australia's 1.2 million pensioners are doing it tough. A weekly income of $273 is not enough to cover the increasing costs of groceries, transport, housing and dental and medical bills and the Prime Minister should immediately raise the single aged pension by $30 a week to give pensioners a bit of relief," Senator Brown said.

The Australian Greens today outlined their vision for Australia in the new century ahead of the opening of the Balance-of-Power Senate.

Australian Greens Leader, Senator Bob Brown, said a record 1.17 million people voted Greens at the last election, and the five Greens Senators were ready to work constructively with all parties to respond to the challenges of the new century.

"Pollution, poverty, discrimination and the destruction of Australia's forests and precious environments are the legacy of the last century and decades of greed and inaction."