Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

The government has circulated amendments which indicate to the Senate that some adjustment to the package is imminent. Let me say here that I am not predicating my brief remarks at this stage on what might be happening in negotiations the government might be having with any other members of the Senate. However, I can tell the Senate that the Australian Greens have made substantial progress in negotiations with the government on this package. We are very close to a final agreement and, if and when that agreement is made, I commit to the Senate that I will come in here directly and without delay to give the Senate the detail of that agreement, because that is proper parliamentary process.

That said, I can indicate that the amendment that has been circulated is to divert some $400 million to funding some of the amendments to the package that may occur in consultation with the crossbench. The Greens have been negotiating in good faith with the government, recognising that this package is important to the nation at a time of global financial stricture. We see the potential for increased unemployment and hardship in the country and recognise that a stimulus to the economy is required. As I have said from the outset, we are not going to take a sledgehammer to the government’s package, but we do want real benefits from modest amendments. In particular, we have been aiming at green and local job creation. We have, as I said, made some progress with the government on this. We have not yet finalised the agreement, but it is down to crossing the t’s, dotting the i’s and making last-minute word changes. I can say that amongst the proposals that the Senate might anticipate is a relaxation of the liquid assets waiting period for unemployed Australians—a mechanism to ensure that all unemployed persons and students have access to the bonus payment.

There is reiteration of the government’s commitment to increase the age pension in the May budget. We have been able to reach agreement with the government on reassuring funding for the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre in Melbourne, which will do vital work in research on bushfires over the coming triennium. The prospect of upgrading that centre to a global wildfire research centre will be looked at in the future. We have also been seeking an increase in funding for the Australian Bureau of Statistics, simply because that is an important entity for assessing the delivery of government services and moneys. We have of course concentrated on energy efficiency measures. That is one area in which we are finalising commitments. We are also, as you will know because we have been talking about this publicly, concerned to see that no local government is left out of the opportunity to seek funding under the local government fund.

I sense the frustration of the Senate. However, I am just flagging that we are very close to agreement with the government. I would expect to come in here within the next hour or two and make a more complete statement. Then of course the Senate will be able to debate the measures in the proposed amendments. Finally, I want to say this: the Greens remain committed to the scheduling that this matter be voted up or voted down and that it be put to a vote by the Senate by no later than midnight tonight. We agree that the Senate needs to be able to debate amendments, and we will do all we can to facilitate all senators from our corner of the Senate being informed and being able to go through the amendments and come to the best conclusion possible. We remember this: this is a big stimulus package; it has generally been welcomed by the Australian people; and it is our belief that it should, if at all possible, be passed so that it can do the work of stimulating the economy without any unnecessary delay.