Ten priorities to advance science and technology

In the allocation of government surpluses some areas are more important than others. Of highest priority is the need for the Government to sort out the mess in our universities.

They are slowly being squeezed to death, and the quality of Australian science is being affected by increasing workloads and a failure to renew equipment and laboratories.

Coupled to this Australians need to view public support for R&D as an investment rather than a drain on the public purse There have been massive boosts to research budgets by the Governments of the USA and Britain.

These Governments have taken a hard-headed look at the benefits - new industries, new well-paid jobs, and a better quality of life through technological advances. They have done their sums and can see that the investment pays off.

Assessment of these opportunities needs to be done in a co-ordinated way. The Minister for Industry, Science and Resources needs to bring together all the cost-benefit analyses of R&D in Australia.

There are a number of studies showing how investment in R&D pays off, but they all use a different approach. If we can establish a common methodology we can assemble a cast-iron case showing that the high-technology, high-salary path is possible for Australia.

The Wills Report on Health and Medical Research picked up a number of these issues.

I support the recommendations Wills makes, in particular his support for a peer-reviewed competitive system as a means of selecting which research projects will be funded.

Wills also emphasises the need to commercialise Australian science and technology, and his report is part of a growing groundswell of support for commercialisation.

Industry, Government and science groups increasingly recognise they have a common interest in translating our clever science into commercial reality. The mindset has to be right, and so do the taxation and policy settings.

These challenges can be tackled and I would like to suggest 10 specific initiatives.

1. UNIVERSITIES AT THE CROSSROADS

The Government must restore stability in the higher education sector through realistic annual salary indexation to help meet negotiated salary increases, and through realistic annual indexation of infrastructure costs that recognises the impact of the exchange rate on library acquisitions, information technology and purchases of major equipment.

2. PEER-REVIEW FUNDING: THE BEST WAY TO GO

Australia must retain a nation-wide competitive, peer-reviewed process as part of a plurality of research funding mechanisms. The ARC should be independent like the NH&MRC, and its budget increased to allow more top-ranked science projects to be funded.

3. INCENTIVES FOR SCIENCE AND MATHS TEACHERS

The shortage in qualified teachers of science and mathematics will worsen unless good quality graduates are attracted to the profession by incentive schemes such as delayed or reduced HECS repayments. Universities need incentives to provide extra teacher-training positions.

4. SCIENCE IN THE BUSH

Science and Technology can help create new jobs in regional Australia in industries such as aquaculture, wine-making and biotechnology as well as coping with salinity and other environmental issues. These matters need an "all-of-government" approach, with the active participation of regional governments.

5. AUSTRALIA: AN ATTRACTIVE PLACE TO INVEST

The Government must introduce internationally competitive R&D tax concessions and capital gains taxes. This is particularly important with the Ralph Report being reviewed in the Senate. These would support our highly skilled work-force and the relatively low cost of research to make Australia a very attractive place in which to invest in science and technology.

6. KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES

Government support for R&D should be viewed as an investment rather than a drain on the public purse. Both Britain and America have sharply increased their spending on research, and Australia should follow this lead by investing in our future prosperity through increased funding for R&D.

7. INVESTING IN AUSTRALIA'S HEALTH

The major recommendations of the Wills Review into Health and Medical Research should be implemented, and government, research and industry should work together to implement its recommendations to improve the delivery of health and medical research in Australia.

8. SCIENTISTS THINKING COMMERCIALLY

Universities and research agencies should offer real incentives and encouragement to scientists to commercialise their work. Commercial activities should be recognised as a valid professional activity in promotion and appointments, and existing training and assistance programs improved.

9. THE BENEFITS OF BEING INTERNATIONAL

The Government can build Australia's international science links by investing in reciprocal projects such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, and capturing potential flow-on benefits in emerging technologies such as biotechnology and information sciences.

10. LANDMARK PROJECTS TO MARK 2001

I invite the Government to capture the imagination of all Australians with landmark Science and Technology based projects to mark the Year 2001. These projects should create high-quality employment opportunities, and could include national research investment in Australia's Ocean Territory.