Click here for a link to the new Democracy for Sale site.

The Australian Greens say electoral funding data released today by the Australian Electoral Commission reveals that political donations in the 2013-2014 financial year hit a record $202 million, which is an increase of 600 per cent from the previous year.

The Hunger for Justice campaign which started today is an important grassroots initiative supported widely in the community. It is endorsed by Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA, the Refugee Action Coalition, RISE (Refugees, Survivors and Ex-Detainees), the Indigenous Social Justice Association, the Fire Brigade Employees’ Union, SEARCH Foundation and Aid Watch.

I will join the campaign by fasting over the weekend. My last meal will be tonight (Friday) and I will break my fast at 7pm on Sunday 1 February.

The Greens have rejected NSW Environment Minister Rob Stokes' comments on the tentative listing of Royal National Park and are calling on the NSW State and Federal Government to ensure the 2015 deadline is not missed.

Australian Greens Senator for NSW Lee Rhiannon said: "Environment Minister Stokes is misleading in saying that additions could be made to the tentative list ‘at any time'.

"If we miss the midnight 31 January 2015 deadline, the next chance Royal can be considered for tentative listing is 2016.

WHAT: Greens higher education spokesperson Senator Rhiannon is in Alice Springs to discuss the Coalition government's higher education cuts and deregulation plans, at a community forum.

WHEN: 6.30pm Thursday 29 January 2015

WHERE: Andy McNeill Room, Alice Springs Town Council Building

Senator Rhiannon is also available to comment on her meetings with Pine Gap activists, local Aboriginal women, the Arid Lands Environment Centre and the Medical Association for the Prevention of War.

Media Contact: 0409 148 226

Lees office: 0487 350 880

Commenting on reports that John Dawkins is backing deregulation, Greens spokesperson for higher education Senator Lee Rhiannon said:

"John Dawkins was a former chairman and shareholder of a private for profit vocational education and training company - Vocation - that is now subject to three class-action lawsuits and reportedly may never trade again.

"Mr Dawkins' endorsement of deregulation shows just how desperate the Abbott government is.

Following further revelations of potential rorting by private, for-profit education providers, the Australian Greens have called for the recently established Senate inquiry into private vocational education to consider a crackdown on private operators accessing government funding.

The Australian Greens have today said that the biggest components left of Christopher Pyne's higher education Bill are a $450 million windfall to private higher education providers and debt that could be as high as $200 000 for some students.

The Australian Greens say the latest iteration of the Abbott/Pyne higher education Bill is a face saving measure designed to save the Prime Minister's political skin and have called on the Government to take their proposal for higher student fees to an election.

"The Coalition's latest desperate gambit, the reduction of funding cuts in order to shepherd through fee deregulation, already looks to have failed with the Greens, Labor and crossbenchers remaining firmly opposed to increasing student fees," said Greens spokesperson for higher education Senator Lee Rhiannon.

5000 Australian students, future students and their allies have joined the ‘1 Million Reasons’ campaign to send key crossbench Senators a postcard asking them to vote down the Abbott government’s higher education cuts. 

Launched on Tuesday, ‘1 Million Reasons’ will customise, print and post a postcard for six of the key crossbench Senators for each sign up: http://www.millionreasons.com.au/.