Media releases
SCIENCE BUDGET 2009/10
RESPONSE BY PROFESSOR KURT LAMBECK, PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTRALIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE
Academy welcomes science Budget
13 May 2009
The Australian Academy of Science welcomes the Government’s clear recognition that adequate and sustained investment in science, research and innovation is integral to our economic recovery.
The Government’s 2009/10 Budget and White Paper Powering Ideas provide a long-term framework for enhancing Australian research and development and takes up many of the important recommendations in the Cutler and Bradley reviews, as well as a number of related Parliamentary inquiries.
The framework represents an important start to repairing a decade of neglect of research funding, although the full benefits will not begin to flow through for three to four years.
The decision to fund the indirect costs of research in universities through increased funding to the Research Infrastructure Block Grants (RIBG) Scheme is a particularly valuable measure, reflecting the importance of the contribution made by university research to the basic knowledge that underpins all development. However, the Academy believes that significant benefit would be derived if all grant schemes eventually met the full cost of research.
Particularly farsighted initiatives include the replacement of the Southern Surveyor research vessel and the extension of the Integrated Marine Observing System in the Southern Ocean. Both will generate data critical to understanding climate change in our region.
In addition, the development of emerging industries like nanotechnology and biotechnology will be underpinned by the targeted investment in analytical equipment, processing and fabrication facilities, and enhanced computing capabilities.
Importantly, the new innovation agenda spans across Government portfolio objectives and incorporates a number of initiatives to promote public - private sector collaboration. In addition, the refundable Research and Development Tax Credit for small and medium sized firms will provide vital support for private sector researchers.
The focus of this year’s Science Budget is almost entirely on material infrastructure. The human infrastructure needed to support the effective use of the new facilities and to accommodate projected increases in undergraduate enrollments will need to be developed in future budgets. Leading edge facilities will require well-trained research teams.
This issue is partly recognised by the doubling of Australian Postgraduate Awards (APAs) by 2012, creating a total of 100 new postdoctoral fellowships over the next two years and by raising the stipend of APA’s to just above the Henderson Poverty Line (for singles).
The critical bottleneck is still in the post-PhD stage. The Government announced the Future Federation Fellowship scheme last year, but this scheme will need to be expanded beyond its current level if it is to meet our high-level workforce needs.
The Powering Ideas White Paper is a ten-year reform agenda to make Australia more productive and creative. This Budget represents important, initial steps toward reaching its goals and we welcome it.
The Academy of Science will now seek meetings with relevant Ministers and their Departments to accept the invitation to consult further upon the implementation of Budget announcements as they relate to the future of Australian science.
Professor Kurt Lambeck is available for comment.
Contact: Mona Akbari, (02) 6201 9452 or 0447 679 612
