Greens MP Adam Bandt, whose Melbourne electorate includes some of Australia's leading research and biotechnology organisations, says he is "sick" of science being treated as a plaything by politicians.
In a speech to the House of Representatives, Mr Bandt said he was "outraged that, every time the budget gets tight, governments see science and research funds as a honey pot to dip into."
Mr Bandt, who with Labor has been outspoken critic of the Government's changes to the R&D Tax Incentive, slammed the Government over its attempt to link $150 million in funding for research infrastructure to its failed higher education reforms.
Despite the Government's backdown earlier this week, Mr Bandt said he could not believe that, "funding for national collaborative research infrastructure could be used as a short-term, grubby political plaything and a tactical manoeuvre, when it should be part of a long-term, secure funding cycle."
According to the Greens MP, "My electorate of Melbourne does some amazing research. In Melbourne, in conjunction with other areas, we are on the verge of developing devices that would deliver pain relief bionically.
'We are on the verge of developing the bionic eye. There are printable solar cells being developed as a result of partnerships with scientists and universities in my electorate," he said.
He continued, "...since 2009, Australia makes more every year exporting health and medical research related products than we do from exporting cars. And that is certainly going to continue to be the case in the future as the car makers pull out."