Discussion: Suggestions for action

The group discussions held as part of the Forum's afternoon program came up with a series of points that were later reported back to the final plenary session.

Both import replacement and exports will contribute to reversing the deficit.

The Plastics and Chemicals Industries Association is to convene a group to look at the problem.

More data in import/export figures will highlight market opportunities.

There is a need to establish a process for undertaking a chemical flow analysis for Australia.

There is a need to convince governments of the importance of specific actions to reverse the deficit.

Two academies and the Plastics and Chemicals Industries Association to combine with the government to form a study group to examine the problem, with terms of reference similar to those of recommendation 4.13 in Chemistry ­ a vision for Australia (Royal Australian Chemical Institute, September 1993). The Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies, the Royal Australian Chemical Institute and PHODS should be involved. The Australian Science and Technology Council may have a role.

There is a need to train chemical engineers in Australia for chemical manufacturing.

Establish a technology park for the plastics and chemical industries.

A cooperative research centre should be established for specialty chemicals.

Reforms to assist the survival of small-to-medium enterprises should be supported.

Examine the Dow-Huntsman arrangement to see whether regulations inhibit similar rationalisations.

Devise programs to assist small-to-medium enterprises with knowledge about and assessments of technologies suitable for their use.

Support improvements to anti-dumping arrangements.

Use non-tariff barriers, such as standards and product quality, to reduce imports.

State governments, as well as the Federal Government, should be involved.

Any study should emphasise the role of industry, and it should be led by industry.

The following recommendation from Chemistry ­ a vision for Australia (Royal Australian Chemical Institute, September 1993) is still relevant today:

'In order the stimulate the chemical industry to fund more R&D in Australia, the government should offer incentives tied to R&D expenditure, following the philosophy of the factor f scheme.

'DIST and the chemical industry associations urgently need to develop a chemical industry policy that addresses the following:

'The generic technology grants have been the main avenues for universities and government research laboratories to access Industrial Research and Development Board funds. Chemistry is an important component of much of Australia's industrial base, but does not seem to have been sufficiently recognised by the Industrial Research and Development Board. The Board should consider forming a chemicals and plastics industry committee.'