The Australian Greens condemn the violence and breakdown in the UN-backed ceasefire in Western Sahara. Any acts of aggression by the Moroccan government are unacceptable, and the Australian Greens are profoundly concerned at reports that the Moroccan government has launched a military operation in a United Nations-patrolled buffer strip in Western Sahara.  The Australian Greens urge the UN to broker a renewed cease-fire as soon as possible. 

Greens Foreign Affairs spokesperson Senator Janet Rice said Morrison’s delay in getting stranded Australians home is unacceptable and has called on the government to urgently increase federal resources to boost quarantining capacity across the country.

Senator Rice said:

“Morrison has finally acted in announcing an expansion to quarantine facilities at Howard Springs, but it has taken him too long, and the solution is nowhere near good enough.

Greens Transport and Infrastructure spokesperson Senator Janet Rice has condemned the Morrison government for failing to invest in a green recovery that would create new jobs and build the foundations of a fair, clean economy. 

Instead, the Morrison government is doubling down on transport infrastructure that locks in pollution, props up fossil fuel corporations and will make the climate crisis even worse. 

Senator Rice said: 

“Budgets are about choices, and the Morrison government is making the wrong ones.

Following reports of a mass forced-labour program in Tibet, Greens Senator Janet Rice has called on the Chinese Government to allow access to the region so journalists and officials can look into these allegations. 

Quotes attributable to Senator Janet Rice, Greens Foreign Affairs spokesperson

“Reports of a mass labour program in Tibet are deeply disturbing. This program has dangerous parallels with the enforced labour, indoctrination and surveillance of the Uighur people.

Following dnata’s announcement today that 1000 workers will be made redundant, Greens Senator Janet Rice has condemned the Prime Minister for locking these workers out of JobKeeper and called on him to produce a plan for the aviation industry. 

Quotes attributable to Senator Janet Rice, Greens Transport spokesperson

“This is devastating news for dnata workers and their families. My thoughts are with them as they face stress, uncertainty and some tough decisions ahead.

In testimony today at the Senate Inquiry into the Administration of Sports Grants, affected sports clubs and local governments have called on the Morrison government to fund their deserving projects that missed out because of the Coalition’s pork-barrelling.