Tony Abbott has cut investment into science, research and innovation to the equal lowest level since records began in the 1970s, Greens Deputy Leader and Science & Research spokesperson, Adam Bandt MP, said today.

"Analysis of recently released Treasury ‘Science, Research & Innovation Budget Tables’ reveals for the first time just how low the country's investment into R&D is falling and it's a truly shocking picture," said Mr Bandt.

Greens spokesperson for Small Business, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, says that the mining tax repeal delivers a massive blow to the small business sector.

Senator Whish-Wilson said, “This massive win for the mining companies comes at the expense of not just worker’s superannuation, but is also a body-blow to small business.

“The mining tax repeal has made the two million small businesses in Australia losers, just to benefit a handful of mining giants.

Today in the Senate, the Greens Senator for Consumer Affairs, Competition Policy and Small Business, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson will introduce the Corporations Amendment (Financial Advice) Bill 2014 to provide improved definitions for consumers seeking financial advice.

Following the Senate voting in favour of a Greens’ motion on CSIRO cuts today, Deputy Greens Leader and Science spokesperson Adam Bandt MP said the Government should immediately reverse cuts to CSIRO’s AAH Laboratory, which conducts research into Avian Influenza, SARS, the Hendra virus and most recently Ebola.

“The Government must now immediately reverse its $111m cuts so that CSIRO’s AHHL can operate at its full capacity,” said Mr Bandt.

The Senate voted in favour of a Senate motion moved by Greens Senator Richard Di Natale that called for the cuts to CSIRO and the Australian Animal Health Laboratory to be reversed.

The text of the motion is as follows:

Greens spokesperson for Consumer Affairs, Competition Policy and Small Business, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson provides the following comments on the Government reintroducing their Corporations Amendment (Streamlining of Future of Financial Advice) Bill 2014 into the House of Representatives today.

Senator Whish-Wilson said, “Today the Government has brought on FoFA legislation that is aimed at locking into law the dodgy deal that they have done with Clive Palmer to back the big banks over consumers.

The Australian Greens will move amendments in the Senate to strike out Government plans to cut R&D incentives for large companies and instead put in place quarterly payments for small and medium size businesses eligible for a R&D tax incentive refund.

The Tax Laws Amendment (Research and Development) Bill 2013 is currently before the Senate and crossbench Senators will determine its passage.

“Tony Abbott is an economic wrecking ball and these cuts to research and development incentives prove it,” said Adam Bandt MP, Greens Research spokesperson.