Greens MP backs police against O'Farrell Government's attacks

Greens MP Jamie Parker today delivered a passionate speech to the NSW parliament, opposing the O'Farrell Government's drastic cuts to police death and disability compensation.

"A slashing of benefits should not be the Government's first step to reduce the cost to society of compensating injured police," Mr Parker said.

"Neither this Government nor the previous Government has taken any concrete steps to reduce the number of police suffering from injury.

"The Government has a responsibility to consult and negotiate with the Police Association to find new ways to deal with injured police and to ensure that police officers with a psychological injury are treated with respect.

"To date, 85 per cent of police officers who exit out of this scheme remain unemployed. These people are not shirkers and they are not rorting the system. They are genuinely injured police with seriously disabling injuries, 85 per cent of whom cannot find a job after they leave the Police Force.

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Labor denies university staff cut crisis: votes against funding increase

The major parties have shown themselves to be disinterested in stemming university staff cuts by voting down a Greens motion that calls for an increase in public funding by 10 percent for government supported university students, said Greens Senator for NSW and higher education spokesperson Lee Rhiannon (motion below).

"The government is turning its back on university staff and students. Without extra funding there is a strong risk that the quality of teaching will suffer," Senator Rhiannon said.

"The Greens motion called for little more than an honouring of recommendations of the independent Bradley review, at an estimated cost of $500 million.

"The Tertiary Education Minister Chris Evans has responded to news of widespread job cuts by painting a picture of a sector flush with funds.

"This is an insult to the teachers and staff at universities who have for decades done more with less.

Coal seam gas well approval in drinking water catchment

Coal seam gas well approval in drinking water catchment

The Greens NSW spokesperson on mining Jeremy Buckingham has condemned the approval of a coal seam gas well within the Special Catchment Area on the Illawarra Plateau, saying it highlights the need for a moratorium on the industry.

NSW Government spends $93 million keeping children in detention, and rising

NSW Government spends $93 million keeping children in detention, and rising

The Auditor General's report released today confirms a continuing disturbing trend of increased costs for detaining juveniles in NSW.  The report establishes the average cost of detaining a juvenile in NSW has risen to a staggering $652 per day.