Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown and Senator Lee Rhiannon congratulate the advocates for women in Papua New Guinea for the years of effort that have paved the way for an amendment to the country's constitution to change the male-dominated Parliament before next year's election.

"The passage this week of the Equality and Participation Bill will mean that a clause can be added into the Constitution to establish women-only seats, taking affirmative action to combat unequal opportunity," Senator Brown said.

Wednesday 22 August 2007
 
The Exclusive Brethren sect holds undue sway over the Howard government, Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.
"The sect's shadowy, multimillionaire leader for life, Bruce Hales, lives in Bennelong and has aided and abetted the Prime Minister's election campaigns. In return he has got exemption from unions having access to sect workplaces, millions of dollars for sect schools, and a blind eye from the Prime Minister on kooky but socially harmful sect policies:

The Prime Minister today (see Sydney's Daily Telegraph) invited Muslims to adhere to the Australian ethos of equality for women.
 
Greens Leader Bob Brown has responded by calling on Mr Howard to insist that an extreme Christian sect which admires him as the "right" or righteous leader, stop oppressing women.
 
"The Exclusive Brethren pour hundreds of thousands of dollars into pro-Howard campaigns and get favours in return.
 
Two weeks ago the Government blocked a Greens motion for a senate inquiry into their 'un-Australian' activities.