Greens' Motion For Treasurer to Rule Out Further Cuts or Delays to Research Funding Still Awaits Parliamentary Vote. (February 10, 2012)

Deputy leader of the Australian Greens, MP Adam Bandt*, is also their science and research spokesman: "Thousands of jobs depend on secure, long-term funding for science and research."

The Australian's John Ross reports Mr Brandt as saying: “Labor pulled the motion off the daily program... The motion had the support of the crossbench and the Coalition and was set to pass. Labor is either chicken or has something to hide about the upcoming budget,” while the government’s leader in the House of Representatives, Anthony Albanese, is quoted as saying that the vote had never been listed and added that the government was focused on getting its National Disability Insurance Scheme bill passed but was allowing time for a plethora of private members’ items, with four listed for this past Friday and Mr Bandt’s motion would go to a vote, but by next week at the earliest.

As a spokesman for Mr Brandt pointed out, the current minority government has lost very few votes in the House, implying that were the coalition to side with the crossbenches, as is suggested by Opposition Leader Tony Abbott’s recent pledge to quarantine medical research from funding cuts, the vote on this matter is something the government wants to avoid.

Note: It'll be recalled that just after Boxing Day Mr Brandt was reported by The Australian as asking: "Treasurer Wayne Swan to consider reversing the cut to the Sustainable Research Excellence program," seeing as the government has backed away from its pledge to bring down a balanced budget in May, which to date has been ignored to no one's surprise.

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*Mr Brandt is a former partner at Slater and Gordon and is currently completing his PhD in law and politics from Monash University.