Greens MP Adam Bandt has condemned an apparent attempt by the Victorian State government to blackmail the University of Melbourne to work on its controversial alpine cattle grazing trials.

The alleged blackmail, revealed in today's Sunday Age, was an attack on academic freedom, Mr Bandt said. He called on the Federal Minister for Education to ensure there is properindependentinvestigation by the University.

Mr Bandt, who has a bill before Federal Parliament to ban cattle grazing in the Alpine National Park, said he would also move for an inquiry by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Education and Employment into the matter.

"This appears to be an outrageous attempt at blackmailing one of Australia's premier education institutions, located in myelectorateof Melbourne " Mr Bandt said.

"We knew the Baillieu government was desperate to justify its vandalism in the Alpine National Park but I am surprised they would go this far."

"The Federal Minister needs to ensure a proper independent investigation of this matter is conducted by the University ofMelbourneand made public.

"I will also move for an inquiry by the Federal Parliament's Committee on Education, Employment and Workplace Relations."

"I am due to meet the Vice-Chancellor soon and will be discussing with him the need for an investigation and what he is doing to protect his University from this attack on academic freedom.

"This situation also reinforces the need for legislative protection of academic freedom. It is appalling that Australia is one of the few countries in the developed world without such protection."

Mr Bandt's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Abolition of Alpine Grazing) Bill 2011 is due to be debated in the next sitting of Parliament.

Victorian Greens MLCs will also pursue the matter when State Parliament resumes tomorrow including a motion calling for the release of all correspondence regarding the alleged blackmail.