The Australian Greens launch a new national rental standard proposal today to improve the lives of the 2.4 million Australian households - 30 per cent of the population - who rent.

“More and more Australians are unable to buy their own home and are spending vast sums of money on rent, often between a third and half of their income,” said Senator Scott Ludlam, Australian Greens Housing spokesperson.

Tony Abbott’s wild promise of $1.3billion for roads in Western Australia comes side-by-side with his plan to provide zero dollars for urban rail in our state, Greens Senator for WA Scott Ludlam warned today.

“It’s no wonder Colin Barnett has been dodging questions around how he will fund rail projects in WA, with his Federal Liberal counterpart planning to axe $500million in Federal funds for rail from Western Australia,” said Senator Ludlam.

Debate around gas and oil development and the implications of Labor's Northern Territory tax plan misses the main question about Western Australia's energy future, The Greens said today.

"While the Premier attacks the Prime Minister for supposedly threatening his gas ambitions, and Kevin Rudd talks about making Perth an oil and gas headquarters, both Labor and the Liberals are ignoring Western Australia's huge solar potential," said Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam.

The Australian Greens today launched a national survey to determine where, how, and to what extent tenants and people looking for rental properties are getting a rough deal. The Rental Health Check - http://www.greens.org.au/rental-health-check

"With escalating rents and the shortfall in available rental properties, more and more renters are competing with each other for what can be substandard, over-priced, insecure or inappropriate housing," Greens housing spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam said.

The Australian Greens have welcomed the WA Government's more reasoned approach to solar feed-in-tariffs, while warning Mr Barnett must recognise that renewable energy is the way forward for WA.

"Congratulations to the thousands of Western Australians who stood up to Mr Barnett and made him realise that he couldn't break a promise to electricity customers," Greens Senator for WA Scott Ludlam said.

"Now it's time for Mr Barnett to see the bigger picture.

Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam has taken a strong stand against the Barnett Government’s solar swindle today, launching The Greens’ plan for an Energy Savings Agency to deliver Fair Pay for Solar in WA. 

Greens spokesperson for sustainable cities, Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam, says now Colin Barnett has accepted the Greens-led push to build light rail in Perth, the Greens will maintain pressure to ensure Federal funds flow to the project.

"How awkward; Colin Barnett's WA Government Budget today assumes the realisation of May 2013 Federal Labor commitment for $500 million rail in Perth - and yet Mr Abbott has famously ruled out funding any urban rail if he is elected," Senator Ludlam said.

The Australian Greens have launched an innovative plan to unlock billions of dollars in new investment in social housing and to end the chronic shortage of social housing experienced by families across Australia.

Australian Greens Leader Senator Christine Milne said the Greens' Stronger Social Housing System will help 225,000 Australian singles and families currently in temporary accommodation or homeless, as they wait years for public housing.

WA2.0 is the Greens vision for a sustainable and prosperous Western Australia. To find out more about the vision vist www.greenswa.net.au

Below are leafets that summarise key elements of this vision.