The Greens say only gutless recommendations are contained in today's report from the Senate inquiry into electricity prices, which shows the only thing stopping Australians from enjoying lower electricity prices immediately is the lack of political will to stop major networks from gouging their customers.

"It's plainly obvious that to bring down power bills and pollution we must start with the electricity market and network charges," Greens Leader Christine Milne said.

Greens Leader Christine Milne has a food labelling bill ready to go and says the time is ripe for the Coalition government to help pass it.

"We have people being diagnosed with Hepatitis A from eating contaminated imported food, and we have people saying they don't know how to tell if they're buying Australian food. Let's fix the system," said Senator Milne.

"Big supermarkets and overseas food corporations have made it really difficult to know where our food comes from.

The Australian Greens say massive cuts to research and development, passed through the Senate today by the Liberals, Nationals, Palmer United Party and Independent Nick Xenophon, is another act of intergenerational theft.

"Cutting support for research and development is a short-sighted way to balance the Budget and will help drive the country's investment in research to a 30-year low," said Greens science, research and innovation spokesperson Adam Bandt MP.

This Australia Day weekend, Greens Leader Christine Milne is ramping up the campaign for country of origin food labelling to support Australian farmers and workers.

Senator Milne has announced that she will re-introduce the Greens bill for mandatory labelling as soon as parliament returns.

"Australia's farmers and food manufacturers are under pressure. Everyone wants to support our farmers and workers by buying local products but our current labelling is too confusing," said Senator Milne.

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.

Tony Abbott's so-called "government of no surprises" has been turned on its head again by revelations that savage cuts will be made to the Hobart-based Australian Antarctic Division, as part of an Environment Department budget contraction worth $100 million and 480 jobs .

"During the election campaign, Mr Abbott flew into Hobart and announced $38 million to expand the airport's capacity for Antarctic flights and another $24 million for Antarctic research," said Australian Greens Leader and Tasmanian Senator Christine Milne.

The Australian Greens Leader, Senator Christine Milne, introduces a motion the the senate calling on the Abbott government to respect science and research in Australia. The motion reads as follows: