Greens MP and industry spokesperson Adam Bandt has welcomed the passage of the Steel Transformation Plan Bill, but is disappointed Labor failed to back a Senate amendment to support the creation of clean energy jobs in the Illawarra and other regions.

The amendment would have required allocations of the $180 million for Bluescope steel to take into account the joint union-business Green Jobs Illawarra Action Plan.

"This package will help protect jobs and assist in a transition to a cleaner economy," Mr Bandt said.

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. 

Greens MP and spokesperson on Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Adam Bandt has congratulated two Melbourne based scientists who have been jointly awarded the the $300,000 Prime Minister's Prize for Science.

Professors Ezio Rizzardo (CSIRO) and David Solomon (University of Melbourne) developed new chemical theories that have had a big impact on the production of polymers, particularly in plastics.

"I want to congratulate two of Melbourne's great scientific pioneers," Mr Bandt said.

Greens MP and science spokesperson Adam Bandt has congratulated Australia's latest Nobel laureate, Professor Brian Schmidt.

"This is a well deserved award for Professor Schmidt and a fantastic win for Australian scientific research", Mr Bandt said today.

"It reinforces the importance of government support for science funding particularly for basic research."

The Australian Greens want the Federal Government to adopt a target of 3% of GDP for R&D funding lifting Australia into line with other leading OECD economies.

Greens spokesperson for Science and Research, Adam Bandt, has called on the government to reinstate $3.5m in science education funding. This follows Professor Suzanne Cory’s address to the National Press Club today, where she expressed concern science education is on the decline in Australia today.

“Professor Cory made a strong case for linking science education to Australia’s current and future prosperity. Investment in research, innovation and development is critical.”

The research and development reforms passed in the Parliament today increase support for small and medium sized businesses, particularly after the Greens secured amendments to help the cash-flow of these companies which are the engine room of innovation in Australia.

The agreement to make quarterly cash payments to small and medium-sized companies, instead of annual tax credits, was reached after a lengthy consultation by the Greens with a broad range of industry representatives.

Greens MP and banking spokesperson Adam Bandt has given notice today of a motion calling on the government to establish an independent inquiry into the RBA banknote bribery scandal.

Mr Bandt said the inquiry should have the powers of a Royal Commission.

"Now more than ever we need to have confidence in the integrity and governance of the Reserve Bank. This inquiry is essential to restore confidence in the RBA."

The motion reads:

Greens MP and banking spokesperson Adam Bandt announced today that he will move for an inquiry into the RBA banknote bribery scandal.

There needs to be a full independent inquiry into what the government and the RBA knew and did about this growing scandal, he said.

The government needs to set a national goal for research and development spending of at least 3% of GDP, Greens MP Adam Bandt told a meeting of the biotechnology industry today.

Addressing the breakfast meeting of the BioMelbourne Network at Melbourne's Federation Square , Mr Bandt said while there had been increased business investment in R&D, government funding was lagging behind.

"I believe that science, technology and innovation are crucial to Australia's current and future prosperity," Mr Bandt said.

Greens MP and banking spokesperson Adam Bandt has released a new banking bill that will ensure direct debits and credits follow customers when they switch banks, making it easier for consumers to move their accounts.

The Banking and Consumer Credit Protection Amendment (Mobility and Flexibility) Bill 2011 contains a mechanism for account portability. If a customer asks, banks will be required to forward all direct debits and credits to the customer's new bank for 13 months after they switch.