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.

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. 

The Greens have expressed dismay that their Senate motion in support of Newcastle City Council's Environmentally and Socially Responsible Investment policy was voted down today by the Coalition and Labor.

Greens Senator for NSW Lee Rhiannon said: "It's a shame that federal Labor have failed to back their colleagues on Newcastle City Council in their moves to update the Council's Environmentally and Socially Responsible Investment policy.

Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (16:22): I move:

Commenting on AGL's decision to end all political donations (http://tinyurl.com/norm5yb), Greens spokesperson for democracy Senator Lee Rhiannon said: "Even if AGL finally understands why corporate political donations are so problematic, what's taking the Coalition and Labor so long?

"In the past five years the minerals industry has donated more than $5 million, the gambling industry $4 million and the property industry more than $9 million to political parties.

Lee moved the following motion which was supported only by the ten Greens Senators.

AYES
Di Natale, R; Hanson-Young, SC; Ludlam, S; McKim, NJ; Rhiannon, L; Rice, J; Siewert, R; Waters, LJ; Whish-Wilson; Wright, PL

Abbott and Baird sitting in a tree, A.M.A.L.G.A.M.A.T.I.N.G.

The Abbott government has again demonstrated how out of touch it is with community sentiment when in the Senate today they supported the forced amalgamation policy of the NSW Baird government.

The Greens motion to support the right of communities to determine the future of their own local councils was defeated on the combined vote of the Liberal, National and Labor parties.

Greens democracy spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon has said immediate steps should be taken to increase transparency of how MPs' use their parliamentary allowances by making all information available on a searchable website.

"Putting the public spotlight on how MPs spend their allowances will put pressure on MPs to do the right thing," Senator Rhiannon said.

"The public should not have to wait for another inquiry to be completed before being given access to this information.

Greens democracy spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon has advocated that the federal parliament legislate for political donation reform before the next election raising concerns that another parliamentary inquiry should not delay action.

"Political donation reforms are already well documented. We know what needs to happen - MPs should get on with the job and pass the necessary legislation," Senator Rhiannon said.

Senator Lee Rhiannon Greens democracy spokesperson:

"Prime Minister Tony Abbott's probation plan for Bronwyn Bishop is meaningless. He should both refer it to the AFP and ask her to stand aside as Speaker until the issue of her allowance misuse is resolved.

"This ongoing saga is damaging not just to the Abbott government but also to the standing of office of the Speaker.