Submission—2026–27 Pre-Budget submission

2026–27 Pre-Budget submission made by the Australian Academy of Science.

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In an era of massive geopolitical, technological and environmental disruption, investing in science is not a luxury – it is a strategic necessity.

It is in Australia’s national interest that we have the strongest science and technology system possible.

This requires prioritising long-term, sustained investment in research, which equips us with the knowledge to solve challenges, innovate and seize new opportunities.

Australia’s current science capability is unsustainable. While research costs rise, funding has fallen. This challenge cannot be addressed with band-aid solutions and one-off budget boosts.

Australian Research Council and National Health and Medical Research Council funding has declined in real terms. The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) is not being fully utilised. Our public research agencies face significant staffing cuts. These are the symptoms of a highly resource constrained sector.

The Australian Government recognised this by commissioning the Strategic Examination of R&D (SERD). Implementing the SERD’s recommendations to reverse the decline in R&D investment will take several budgets, but it must begin with this one.

There are urgent opportunities that will kickstart the implementation of the SERD’s recommendations and the step change to a secure, sustainable science system that strengthens Australia’s future.

The Academy recommends the Australian Government:

• Implement the Strategic Examination of R&D recommendations to reform the national R&D system and reverse the declining trend in investment.
• Develop a 10-year R&D investment plan for the public and private sectors to work together to create an R&D ecosystem that makes Australia globally competitive and raise national investment in research. The Academy’s budget positive proposal to establish a Research Fund from revenue from an R&D levy supports this objective.
• Invest in a decadal program to secure, coordinate and expand Australia’s high-performance computing and data capabilities across government, the private sector and the science sector.
• Co-invest $16.5 million to the Academy’s Global Talent Attraction Program, demonstrating national leadership by matching the investments made by state governments. Also enable access to the National Innovation Visa for successful Global Talent Attraction Program applicants.
• Invest $8.9 million over four years to extend the Academy’s proven, high-quality, research-backed science and mathematics teaching resources and delivery of professional learning programs for educators.
• Invest in becoming an associated country to Horizon Europe to mitigate geopolitical risks and enhance Australia’s access to world-leading research funding, infrastructure and collaboration opportunities.
• Sponsor Australia’s membership in the Belmont Forum and participation in the Forum’s Ocean 2 Collaborative Research Action. A $2 million one-off investment is expected to generate $10 million in benefits for Australia.
• Bolster the role of the National Science and Technology Council to involve all government Ministers with responsibility for science and research agencies and facilitate ready access to science and technology advice from Australia’s learned academies, who have unique access to leading experts locally and globally.

The Academy has also made a joint submission to the 2026–27 pre-budget consultation calling for the Australian Government to establish a multidisciplinary advisory council on indoor air quality to oversee the development of national indoor air quality strategy.