"I welcome the decision by Mr Muir and Mr Palmer to join the Greens and Labor in opposing the abolition of ARENA," Greens Leader Christine Milne said.

"However, it is extremely disappointing that Mr Palmer and Mr Muir will join Tony Abbott in voting to gut ARENA of $717 million over the next three years. I have serious concerns that ARENA won't be able to fund new innovation projects for renewable energy that we can export to the world.

The Australian Greens say the aluminium industry is already heavily subsidised and must not be fully exempted from the Renewable Energy Target.

"The Renewable Energy Target is working to bring down pollution and power prices, but exempting the biggest polluting industries from the scheme would just totally undermine it," said Greens Leader Christine Milne.

"The point of the Renewable Energy Target is to see the whole economy move away from this unsustainable and unhealthy use of polluting fossil fuels.

Australian Greens Leader and Tasmanian Senator Christine Milne says she firmly supports CSIRO workers who are stopping work today to protest job cuts in the Abbott government's brutal budget.

"It's no wonder Australia's scientists are up in arms and I'm glad that here in Hobart that they're prepared to speak out against this backward attack from a backward government on the research that's helping Australia address 21st Century challenges," Senator Milne said.

The Greens are celebrating the fact that Greens, Labor and Mr Palmer will use the Senate to block the repeal of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, Renewable Energy Target and Climate Change Authority, but are extremely sceptical about Mr Palmer's vague support for an emissions trading scheme.

"It is fantastic that the Senate will save the renewable energy institutions that the Greens established in the last Parliament. These critical institutions are reducing pollution, saving the government money and creating jobs in new industries," Greens Leader Christine Milne said.