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.

Mr BANDT (Melbourne) (09:45): Nothing is more important to the future of our society and our economy than the state of our schools and our education system. I am a passionate supporter of every child's right to access a high-quality public education and I want to see our country do better at providing parents a real choice.

Greens MP and science spokesperson Adam Bandt says the CSIRO should
not be a member of the logging industry's peak body, Australian Forest
Products Association (AFPA).

Mr Bandt says the CSIRO needs to remain independent and Minister Evans
needs to make that clear to the CSIRO.

The ABC's AM program revealed this morning that the CSIRO had paid
$10,000 to become a member of AFPA and that the AFPA had intervened
strongly in political debate, including lobbying against climate
change legislation.

Greens MP and industry spokesperson, Adam Bandt, says future assistance to the car industry needs to drive innovation and a shift to electric vehicles if an Australian car industry is to survive.

Minister Carr and car companies can't just blame the high dollar for job cuts. They must take responsibility for their failure to adapt to the new market.

"The car industry needs to go green if it is to survive," Mr Bandt said.

Greens MP and spokesperson for innovation, industry, science and research Adam Bandt has criticised the government's announcement of a near doubling in HECS fees for maths and science students in today's mid-year mini budget.

"Almost doubling university HECS fees for maths and science students is economic stupidity. How can science and maths be a national priority two years ago and now not be?," Mr Bandt said.