The government's failure to rule out science Budget cuts in the upcoming MYEFO is of great concern, Greens Deputy Leader Adam Bandt said today.

"I share the concerns of researchers and universities about the impact of a pause or freeze on research funding," Mr Bandt said today.

"The Science Minister's answers in Senate Budget estimates hearings today, along with previous answers by the Treasurer to my questioning, give no comfort to those who want to protect science and research from budget cuts."

Greens Deputy Leader and industry spokesperson Adam Bandt has welcomed the release of the Manufacturing Taskforce's report today. Mr Bandt says he will move in Parliament to implement the Taskforce's recommendation for an inquiry into a Sovereign Wealth Fund.

"The manufacturing sector has lost 125,000 jobs in the last four years. We know that the high Australian dollar, in part created by the mining boom, has put pressure on our manufacturing businesses and pressure on jobs", Mr Bandt said.

Any attempt to water down research and development tax concessions will be resisted by the Greens, warned Greens Deputy Leader and research and innovation spokesperson Adam Bandt today.

Responding to speculation about the content of the business tax working group's discussion paper to be released next week, Mr Bandt said the Greens want to see more spent on R&D not less.

"Australia needs to be spending more on research and development, not less," Mr Bandt said.

Greens Deputy Leader and science spokesperson, Adam Bandt, has welcomed the decision to include Australia as a site for the Square Kilometre Array astronomy project.

The giant global radio telescope project will be sited in Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.

"This is a great decision for Australian science. Of course we would all like to have seen the whole project in Australia, but there are benefits to having multiple sites. This will now be a truly global project. Collaboration is the future to science success."

Greens Deputy Leader and science spokesperson Adam Bandt MP has criticised a government bill to almost double uni fees for maths and science students introduced into Parliament today.

The Higher Education Support Amendment (Student Contribution Amounts and Other Measures) Bill saves the Budget $316 million by increasing fees for maths and science courses at university.

"Almost doubling university HECS fees for maths and science students is economic stupidity. Science and innovation are central to our current and future economic prosperity," Adam Bandt said.

Greens Deputy Leader and industry spokesperson Adam Bandt MP says Qantas' decision to cut 500 heavy maintenance jobs threatens the future of airline maintenance in Australia.

Mr Bandt said Qantas' heavy maintenance was central to keeping the critical mass of skills needed for maintenance across the industry and the Federal government needs to take steps to secure a future for maintenance in the country. The government needs to establish the Industry Roundtable called for by the unions to address the future of the industry.

Greens MP and science spokesperson Adam Bandt has welcomed today's announcement of continued funding for the Australian Synchrotron saying it is long overdue.

Mr Bandt said the eleventh hour funding would enable the Synchrotron to continue, but the stand off between the State and Federal government shouldn't have been allowed to threaten the viability of the research facility.

Greens MP and industry spokesperson says the government cannot continue to prop up the failing car industry without commitments from the industry to move to electric vehicles.

Mr Bandt says the Greens support assistance but future co-investment in the auto industry needs to set goals and milestones on electric car development by the industry.

He also offered to work with the government to secure car industry assistance and put it beyond the reach of Tony Abbott, if the government is prepared to secure a future for electric vehicles.

Greens MP and science and research spokesperson Adam Bandt says the low growth in maths and science enrolments show government policy is failing. Mr Bandt repeated Greens calls for budget cuts to school science funding to be reversed and university fee discounts for maths and science students to be restored.

The Unhealthy Science? University Natural and Physical Sciences 2002-2009/10 released by the Chief Scientist Professor Ian Chubb yesterday shows the growth in maths and science enrolments falling behind most other areas of education.