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.

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.

The House of Representatives vote to support the Clean Energy Future bills negotiated by the Greens, the government and independent MPs is a vital step towards tackling the climate crisis and building a cleaner, healthier Australia.

The bills, negotiated through the Multi-Party Climate Change Committee as a result of the Greens' agreement to support the Gillard Government, will now move to the Senate where they will be debated and voted on in November before coming into effect on July 1 next year.

Audio of the press conference at Parliament House today by Senators Bob Brown and Christine Milne and Member for Melbourne, Adam Bandt, after the House of Representatives passed the Clean Energy Future legislation to put a price on pollution and invest in clean, renewable energy.

The House of Representatives vote to support the Clean Energy Future bills negotiated by the Greens, the government and independent MPs is a vital step towards tackling the climate crisis and building a cleaner, healthier Australia, the Australian Greens said today.

The bills, negotiated through the Multi-Party Climate Change Committee as a result of the Greens' agreement to support the Gillard Government, will now move to the Senate where they will be debated and voted on in November before coming into effect on July 1 next year.

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

Today's Opera House protest for Australia's wild forests shows a courage missing in boardrooms and parliament, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

"It sends a message to the world that will be popular. More than 80% of Australians want the destruction of native forests and their wildlife stopped," Senator Brown said.

"The Australian Forest Products Association's claim that Australia's wild forest are logged sustainably is ecological nonsense."

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.