The Australian Government is prepared to abandon all responsibility for regulating the uranium industry, in direct contradiction to written commitments given by Environment Minister Greg Hunt.

In May 2013, then opposition environment spokesperson Greg Hunt said the Commonwealth would retain control over decisions involving nuclear matters and projects for which state governments are likely to have a significant conflict of interest as the proponent - both of which would cover uranium mining.

Between 1952 and 1963, approximately 16,000 Australian civilians and serviceman were exposed to nuclear fallout when British nuclear weapons were tested at the Montebello Islands in Western Australia, Maralinga and Emu fields in South Australia, and over the Christmas and Malden Islands.

"Today Australians mark the sacrifice, suffering and deaths of our servicemen and women in all wars, but unfortunately some of our veterans have been forgotten," said Australian Greens spokesperson on nuclear policy, Senator Scott Ludlam.

Prime Minister Abbott should immediately stop the clock on negotiations over the secret text of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), which threatens to further extend the power of foreign multinational companies.

In the event that Parliament ever resumes, the Australian Greens will move for the Joint Standing Treaties Committee to urgently review what the Abbott Government is proposing to sign us up to.

"Caring for people's health is a priority for the Greens and that's why we're investing in the health of Western Australians," said Senator Di Natale.

"The Greens health package for Western Australia includes more than $150 million for the state's hospitals, with $50 million of that quarantined for rural and regional hospitals.

The Greens have already secured dental care reforms to help more than 139,000 Western Australian families and today announced a fully-costed plan to improve dental care for all Australians.

Australian Greens Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam said that the first stage of the Greens' Denticare plan has been achieved and will come into effect on January 1st.

"The Greens secured an investment of more than $4 billion in the nation's dental care and next year 3.4 million kids will be able to access dental treatment through Medicare.

The Australian Greens have called for hundreds of Australian soldiers who were exposed to radiation from British nuclear bomb testing in the 1950s and ‘60s to automatically receive Veterans' Gold Card health care.

"Between 1952 and 1963, more than 16,000 Australian civilians and serviceman were exposed to nuclear fallout when British nuclear weapons were tested at the Montebello Islands in Western Australia, Maralinga and Emu fields in South Australia, and over the Christmas and Malden Islands," spokesperson Assisting on Defence, Senator Scott Ludlam said.

Western Australian Senator Scott Ludlam has slammed the WA Government for approving lead carbonate shipments through the port of Fremantle despite the operation's history of contamination and incompetence.

"In 2007 a complete failure of regulation saw widespread contamination across Esperance. Failing to learn the lesson, two years ago lead was found in mud caked onto a shipping container as the company targeted the port of Fremantle.

We move:

That the Senate

(a) notes that:

(i) Last week, from 6 to 12 August 2012, it was National Homeless Persons' Week;
(ii) On any given night in Australia, approximately 105,000 people are experiencing homelessness;

(b) recognises that:

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown, Senator for Queensland Larissa Waters, Senators for Western Australia Rachel Siewert and Scott Ludlam, and Member for Melbourne Adam Bandt spoke to the media about the Australian Greens National Conference in Fremantle, WA.

Topics included the allocation of preferences, the environmental threats posed by developments in the Kimberley, and the Nationals' call for a "discussion paper" on coal seam gas.