Australian Greens Education spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has said the Education Minister’s announcement the Commonwealth will fund 12,000 more student places for 2021 is a last-minute scramble to drum up support for unpopular university fee hikes and funding cuts.

Senator Faruqi said:

“Universities need a guaranteed, long-term funding boost, not a cynical injection of last-minute cash as the disastrous job-ready bill hangs in the balance.

Australian Greens Education spokesperson Mehreen Faruqi has said a report of the government-dominated Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee into the Job-ready Graduates legislation is flawed and highly partisan.

The inquiry process was highly problematic, with a 22-day total inquiry period, only two days of hearings, and with no time allowed for discussion on Greens amendments to the report.

Senator Faruqi said:

Australian Greens Education spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has said she was proud to speak at and attend heavily-policed student rallies at the University of Sydney today, which were organised in opposition to the federal government’s proposed university fee hikes and funding cuts.

Senator Faruqi said:

“I was so proud to stand with students and staff in opposition to these terrible fee hikes and funding cuts.

“Unfortunately my speech was cut short by NSW police moving us on.

The Greens have said that a report of the Australian National Audit Office on a land purchase for Western Sydney Airport is damning and demands explanations by senior Commonwealth ministers.

Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Greens Senator for NSW, said:

“This report is damning. On top of enormous incompetence, it reveals instances of completely inappropriate and unethical decision-making.

“The Prime Minister and his ministers must explain this rotten mess. The buck stops with them.

Australian Greens Education spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has said that the latest Child Care Recovery Package, announced today, is yet another band-aid which does little to heal the wound. A long-term plan is needed for this essential service.

Senator Faruqi said:

Australian Greens Leader, Adam Bandt, says today is a grim day for the climate, with the Prime Minister revealing plans to gas-fire Australia’s economic recovery, and Labor abandoning its 2030 climate targets. 

Recent analysis has confirmed that to be consistent with limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees, as set out in the Paris Agreement, Australia would need targets of a 48% cut on 2005 levels by 2030. Net-zero by 2050 alone, without strong 2030 targets, will blow Australia’s ‘2 degree’ budget.

Australian Greens Education spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has said the first day of the Senate Inquiry into the Job-ready Graduates legislation has revealed widespread criticism and sector dissatisfaction regarding the package.

Australian Greens Animal Welfare spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has welcomed the Australian Government’s response to the Senate inquiry into the feasibility of a national horse traceability register but said that work must immediately commence.

Senator Faruqi established the inquiry in early 2019, and the committee reported in November. Senator Faruqi said:

“It’s great that the government supports a traceability register, but now we need action.

Leader of the Australian Greens, Adam Bandt, has today announced a portfolio redistribution that will see Lidia Thorpe and Mehreen Faruqi take on a new anti-racism strategy intended to counter Australia’s growing tide of far right nationalism and tackle systemic racism. 

The move comes as Lidia Thorpe attends her first Greens Party Room meeting as a Senator this Wednesday and ahead of a fuller redistribution of portfolios by Adam Bandt on Thursday.