The Greens spokesperson for Fisheries, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, has welcomed the Senate voting to establish an Inquiry into the sustainability of Tasmania’s salmon farms.

Senator Whish-Wilson said, “This Inquiry will help shine some light on some of the murky information that has recently surfaced regarding the sustainability of salmon farms in Tasmania.

Senator Waters' comments on revelations that the Abbott Government is paying for international journalists to visit the Great Barrier Reef in a misguided attempt to influence the World Heritage Committee's decision on an 'In Danger' listing.

The journalists are from countries that are members of the World Heritage Committee and the program for the visit includes interviews with government, business and industry.

"Sneaky lobbying tactics are not what the Reef needs," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens environment spokesperson, said.

"This is yet another scary insight into the Liberal Party's 1950s views on gender equality.

"That Tony Abbott thinks celebrating International Women's Day at a men's-only club is 'smashing the glass ceiling', once again shows he is unfit to be Minister for Women.
"It's telling that Tattersall's is making a special exemption for the event so that women do not have to show a 'partner card' to gain access.

"This month marks 50 years since women protested in Brisbane against a ban on drinking in public by chaining themselves to the Regatta's public bar.

Greens Leader Christine Milne says changes to the Foreign Investment Review Board are a step in the right direction, but there's a long way to go if Australia is serious about protecting our food future.

"It's critical we make sure that Australia's agricultural land and water are seen as key national assets not to be sold off recklessly," said Senator Milne.

The Greens spokesperson for Fisheries, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson is calling on the Australian government to immediately deploy the Customs vessel ACV Ocean Shield to intercept the two pirate vessels currently illegally fishing off the coast of Australian Antarctic Territory.

Senator Whish-Wilson said, “It is not good enough that the Sea Shepherd has had to, yet again, do the Government’s job.

New research shows $784 million is needed to improve Great Barrier Reef water quality, even before new the coal mines and ports, supported by the major parties, are built.

“Even though the Reef is already struggling, the Newman Government is set to make its water quality even worse,” Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens environment spokesperson, said.

“The Newman Government is paying to dump the dredge spoil from the Abbot Point port expansion in the Caley Valley wetlands.

The Newman Government’s legislation, expected to pass today, letting big mining companies use up billions of litres of water without a licence rips off Queenslanders and the environment.

“The Newman Government is letting the big mining companies take all the water they want, regardless of the needs of farmers or the need for environmental flows in the Reef catchment,” Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens environment spokesperson, said.

Greens Queensland Senator Larissa Waters on Gladstone ABC outpost being cut:

“Before the election, Tony Abbott said there would be no cuts to the ABC and now we’re losing the Gladstone ABC office and locally based staff.

“The Capricornia community is copping the brunt of Tony Abbott’s latest broken promise.

“Local coverage is essential in allowing detailed, informed debate of issues that matter in the region and in acting as a platform for the rest of the world to hear about these stories.

Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens spokesperson for women, on the gender wealth gap and Minister Bishop’s comments about sexism in Harper’s Bazaar:

“With new research by Curtin University showing that Australia’s gender wealth gap, like our gender pay gap, is widening; it’s frustrating that Minister Bishop’s advice to women is to stop whingeing.