Greens Deputy Leader and Federal Member for Melbourne has released a report into childcare availability in the Federal Electorate of Melbourne.

The survey of child care centres examines progress since 2010 and found 76% of centres had no vacancies for the 0–2 age group, and 43% had no vacancies for 3–4 year olds. The survey also found average waiting lists of more than 12 months for children under 2 years old and that some centres have over 300 families waiting for a place.

Responding to reports that the final week of Parliament will see legislation for the Gonski schools funding reform and a disability insurance scheme, Greens Deputy Leader and lower house MP, Adam Bandt, has demanded the Government commit serious funds when the bills are introduced.

"Labor must show some financial guts and tell the public how much money will be spent on schools and disability insurance" said Mr Bandt.

"I am sick of hearing big announcements about important reforms, only for the funding to be put on the never never."

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 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.

Monday, 31 October 2011

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 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.”

Greens MP for Melbourne Adam Bandt responds to the 2011-12 budget with long term vision for Australia's economy.