Public mental health and private mineral wealth are the big winners out of this year's budget, Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

"The Greens are celebrating the $1.5 billion boost to mental health funding, although we are shocked to discover that almost $0.5 billion is outside the forward estimates. There is a bias in the overall budget to the influential mining barons who are unelected and send massive profits overseas. While the mining corporations gain, programs for Australians, including the environment have been cut by billions," Senator Brown said.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown joins ABC News Breakfast live from Hobart to discuss next week's federal budget and respond to reports that the Government plans to re-open a prison for asylum seekers on Manus Island, PNG.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown held a press conference where he discussed the UN Security Council's vote on a no-fly zone over Libya.

Questions on the situation in Bahrain, the issue of asylum seekers on Christmas Island, and Professor Ross Garnaut's report about pricing pollution and compensating households were also answered.

Dear Editor,

Andrew Bolt has blood on his hands. He stridently insisted on the invasion and killings in Iraq which led to millions fleeing. Some of those millions ended up in the ocean off Christmas Island on Wednesday.

Andrew Bolt’s call, while bodies were still in the ocean, for Julia Gillard’s resignation (but the Labor Party opposed the war in Iraq) lacked human decency. He should resign.

Senator Bob Brown

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown says that it is likely either Labor's Timor Leste option or the Coalition's Nauru, for asylum seekers, will be possible under existing Howard years' legislation.

However, if a regulation for either is required, the Greens will not support it.

Senator Brown said the Greens look at all legislation before the Senate and treat it on its merits.

Senator Bob Brown was interviewed on The 7:30 Report where he discussed the stance of both major parties on the issue of asylum seekers.

You can also read the transcript of the interview here

The Australian Greens spokesperson on Immigration & Citizenship and Human Rights is Senator Sarah Hanson-Young

A humane approach to asylum seekers is crucial to any sustainable population policy said Australian Greens leader Bob Brown today.

Senator Brown welcomed Prime Minister Julia Gillard's re-badging of the Minister for Population as the Minister for Sustainable Population.

"Australia needs a sustainable population determined by our infrastructure and environmental capacity," said Senator Brown.

"Asylum seekers make up a tiny fraction of overall immigration levels, and it is the other 90% plus of immigration that debate should focus on.

"The Green vote "parked" with Australia's first female Prime Minister Julia Gillard, won't stay there long," Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

Commenting on the polls, Senator Brown said that the Gillard prime ministry will shed progressive voters as the natural mood of celebration passes and the reality of Labor's right-wing ascendency manifests itself in:

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown says Liberal Party Leader Tony Abbott's new election campaign television advertisement is xenophobic.

The advertisement promises action on ‘illegals', singling out the nations of Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq.

"This campaign is xenophobic," said Senator Brown.

"It's a sign of things to come in the election campaign from the Coalition.

"It is not illegal for people to seek asylum.

"Mr Abbott is suggesting that Australia renege on its obligations under the UN convention on refugees.

Asylum seekers in Australian waters should be treated with humanity, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

"Australia has guaranteed that refugees from violence and tyranny will be given protection in our country as part of international law and common humanity," Senator Brown said.

"People who do not qualify as refugees will be sent home," he added.

"However, in our robust public debate, hate of others skids just below the surface. Mr Rudd and Mr Turnbull have a high obligation to repudiate this xenophobia."