The Greens have condemned the Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce’s blundering attempt to wade in to Victorian forest issues, saying these type of short-sighted policy ideas have led to the Heyfield mill crisis.

“Barnaby’s thought bubbles on the Heyfield mill are not helping workers who are facing unemployment or the threatened species facing extinction,” said Senator Janet Rice, Greens federal spokesperson for Forests.

I move:

That the Senate take note of the document.

The Victorian and federal governments appear to have quietly extended the East Gippsland Regional Forest Agreement, prompting the Greens to call for the failed logging laws to be scrapped. 

“This is clearly something they aren’t proud of, or both governments would be spruiking the law’s benefits for jobs and the environment,” said Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens forests spokesperson.

“Instead, we have what seems to be a dirty deal done in a dark parking lot.

“Australians have every right to be appalled that their forests will continue to be destroyed.

Senator RICE: I move:

(a) notes that:

   (i) Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs) have been in place as 20-year agreements, designed to manage the conservation and forestry industry considerations for key areas of Australia's public native forests,

   (ii) the first Regional Forest Agreement (RFA), the East Gippsland RFA, expires in February 2017,

In recognition that today is World AIDS Day, the Senate has passed a motion reaffirming Australia’s commitment to ending HIV transmission by 2020.

“World AIDS Day is a time to honour those we've lost, challenge the stigma that still exists and look to the future,” said the Australian Greens LGBTIQ spokesperson Senator Janet Rice.

“AIDS is no longer a death sentence, but the number of new cases is stubbornly remaining at over 1000 people a year. That is 1000 too many.

“By taking the right steps, we can consign AIDS to the dustbin of history.