The Greens are calling on the federal government to immediately raise the strongest of concerns with the Malaysian government about oppression and persecution of the Malaysian LGBTIQ community.

The crackdown includes a horrific caning sentence due to be carried out today on two women who are being punished for having sex, the detention of 20 men in a gay club who were ordered into counselling for ‘illicit behaviour’, the brutal beating of a trans woman on the street and the removal of photographs of LGBTIQ activists from a state-sponsored exhibition.

Australia’s failure to join the electric vehicle revolution has dire implications for the economy, jobs, public health and reducing carbon pollution, a Senate Committee hearing into electric vehicles heard today.

“We know that the electric vehicle revolution is inevitable and is already happening around the world,” said Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens transport spokesperson and committee member.

A Greens motion calling for a formal review into glyphosate to be conducted by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) and calling on Monsanto to publicly release its scientific data has been defeated in the Senate. 

“I’m disappointed that Labor and the government rejected this motion, which comes in the wake of the court decision in the USA last week and has potentially huge health and legal liability ramifications here in Australia,” said Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens agriculture spokesperson.

A senate inquiry chaired by Greens Senator Janet Rice has found that infrastructure such as transport, housing, electricity and water at major risk from sea level rise and extreme temperatures.

“Most Australians live along the coast, and we’re staring down the barrel of sea level rise of 1.1 metres by 2100 and some 250,000 existing homes at risk of inundation,” said Senator Rice, Chair of the Environment and Communications References Committee.

The Australian Greens have warmly welcomed the Uniting Church decision to allow ministers to marry LGBTIQ couples.

“This is a great step forward by the Uniting Church and I would like to extend my thanks and congratulations from the Australian Greens,” said Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens LGBTIQ spokesperson.

“Love is at the heart of Christianity - this decision from the Uniting Church is a reflection of that and will be welcomed by thousands of LGBTIQ Uniting Church members and the broader community.”