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THE CHIEF SCIENTIST PRESENTS AUSTRALIA WITH A BLUEPRINT FOR RE-INVESTING IN OUR CAPACITY TO INNOVATE
17 August 2000

The President of the Academy has given his strong support to the analysis and the recommendations in the Chief Scientist's report The chance to change.

'Robin Batterham has provided the Government with a stark image of the contrast between the course now taken by the advanced economies, among which Australia used to count itself, and current trends in the Australian economy.

'A knowledge economy needs a knowledge base, and the Chief Scientist's proposals provide us with some highly effective steps we can take to boost our knowledge base in science education, research, development and commercialisation of technology.

'The Academy endorses wholeheartedly the proposals for building a culture of innovation with science and technology, boosting the creation of new ideas and building bridges between research, industry and society.

'The Government can now proceed with confidence to formulate its promised plan for addressing the deficiencies that are acknowledged to exist in our research base.

'The key change needed is a rapid increase in the rate of innovation in industry. The Government's earlier action in reducing the rate of the tax concession looks in hindsight to have been regrettable, and I welcome the focus on industrial innovation by the Innovation Summit Implementation Groups that is due to report later.'

'The Chief Scientist has understood clearly the importance of a healthy research base. I endorse strongly his statement that 'we must nurture our research capabilities in the 'enabling' sciences of physics, chemistry and mathematics…' . Our universities are rapidly losing their ability to provide essential education and research in these critical areas.

'An increase of at least 50% in the success rate of qualified applications to the Australian Research Council for research funds, combined with Dr Batterham's recommended increase in support for the equipment and materials needed for research, would make an enormous difference to the morale of researchers.'

'With this report as a basis, the time has now arrived for decisive action. I look forward with confidence to a positive response from Government.

'The Academy, and the research community generally, stand ready to work with government, industry and the community to make the historical transition to a society in which prosperity can increase sustainably, with well-paid rewarding jobs, and resources to address our urgent social and environmental goals.'