NSW Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon has voiced her concern about the impact the loss of penalty rates will have on living standards in the Illawarra and has called on Liberal MPs in the Illawarra to publicly oppose the push to remove penalty rates and change the minimum wage. 

“Gutting Sunday rates for workers in regional areas like Illawarra would have a devastating impact on local economies and exacerbate inequality,” Senator Rhiannon said. 

The Greens have strongly criticised the decision to approve a fourth coal loader at Port Newcastle as an irresponsible act that will impose a massive health burden on people of the Hunter, damage local wildlife habitat and cause more extreme weather events.

On the eve of the United Nations Climate Change Conference this decision to expand coal exports will make Australia an international laughing stock.

Commenting on the Turnbull government's decision to shelve university deregulation Australian Greens Senator for NSW Lee Rhiannon said:

"This is a huge win for thousands of NSW staff, students, their families and unions who ran a fierce and formidable campaign for many months against the Liberal-National government's deregulation agenda.

"Any future government should think twice the next time they try to rip billions from public universities, give millions to private education providers and introduce $100,000 degrees.

Greens democracy spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon has published her use of parliamentary travel allowances online in the interest of greater transparency.

Senator Rhiannon has published her July and August 2015 use of travel allowance and will be doing so for each month going forward - http://tinyurl.com/qxjd7sc.

"MPs are elected to work for the public good and the public have a right to know how MPs use the hundreds of thousands of dollars of public money to undertake that work," said Senator Rhiannon.

• Christopher Pyne wins reform support but fee factor still a deal breaker September 1,

Giving Australians control of their vote should be the key priority for all sides of politics engaging in the debate on whether reform to Senate voting is needed, said Australian Greens democracy spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon.

“The reason we need to reform Senate voting is because the current system does not allow voters to control their preferences – instead it gives that power over to political parties.

“Supporting Senate voting reform is essential to maintaining a democratic electoral system which empowers voters. 

Commenting on Sydney University Vice Chancellor Michael Spence’s plan for students who benefit from subsidised places to pay more for a degree, Greens NSW Senator Lee Rhiannon said: 

“VC Spence’s plan would lead to a new elite within universities and risks the development of subprime degrees.

“Just as it appeared that the university sector could shake off the destructive and time-wasting deregulation debate Mr Spence is back pushing a plan to load the cost burden onto students.

With the world on the cusp to become polio free, the Greens have have expressed their dismay at the Australian government's cut to polio eradication funding by half.

"The Global Polio Eradication Initiative was started by an Australian in response to the worldwide tragedy that is polio," said Greens spokesperson for international aid and development Senator Lee Rhiannon.

"The complete eradication of polio is in sight. To back away from our full funding commitment to this initiative is incredibly irresponsible

Following the leaking of text from the Pacific free trade talks, the Greens are calling on the Australian government to end negotiations and undertake the necessary social and environmental impact assessments.

A draft chapter titled "Development and Economic Cooperation" from the regional free trade agreement known as PACER-Plus has been leaked by the Pacific Islands News Association.

Link: http://tinyurl.com/nvk242n

The Greens have called on Premier Mike Baird to act on the Senate motion that sets out a path to save the Parramatta Female Factory Precinct from destructive over-development.

Greens NSW Senator said "The Senate passed the Greens motion that calls for the Parramatta Female Factory Precinct to be urgently approved for the National and World Heritage listing it so richly deserves.