The government has released its new National Science Statement and National Science and Research Priorities, outlining the long-term vision for Australia’s science and research system. The launch was led by Industry and Science Minister, Ed Husic, and Chief Scientist, Dr Cathy Foley.
The Statement aims to provide a framework to shape science policy and leadership across governments, labs, research institutions, and boardrooms – with five imperatives for the next decade of science investment;
- Australian scientists, science institutions and infrastructure shaping Australia’s science future
- Science at the centre of Australian industry
- A diverse, skilled workforce to underpin the translation of science into new industries
- Embracing science to drive Australia’s regional and global interests
- A science system prepared for future challenges.
University of Newcastle associate professor, Karen Livesey, expressed disappointment about the first imperative.
“Instead of laying out a way to support current scientists who are struggling under high workloads and underfunding, this imperative stated the current achievements of Australian science,” said Livesey.
“It appears from the statement that universities and large facilities like Australia's Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation will be business as usual toward 2034, since they are already performing above world standards. Hidden from this statement is our low and decreasing spend of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on research compared to other developed nations.
“Some of the low spend of GDP is due to a relatively weak investment by Australian industry in research. This is the topic of the second imperative in the statement, which is far stronger and forward-looking.
“Industry is undoubtably important, but collaborations between research and industry are difficult without financial support of current scientists. We don’t want to be 'celebrated', as laid out in the third imperative. We want to be funded to do our jobs and create new knowledge for the nation,” she said.
To support the Statement, key Science and Research Priorities have also been identified, with an emphasis on community collaboration. Each priority includes science and research outcomes to work towards in the next 10 years, and the research needed to be undertaken over the next 5-10 years to achieve these outcomes.
- transitioning to a net zero future
- supporting healthy and thriving communities
- elevating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders knowledge systems
- protecting and restoring Australia’s environment
- building a secure and resilient nation.
Cooperative Research Australia (CRA) CEO, Jane O’Dwyer, said that the organisation had welcomed the opportunity to participate in the process of developing the priorities and currently had members working on all five.
“For example, the world-leading Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) Program is at the forefront of efforts to achieve our ambitious climate change targets, with over $1 billion of industry, research and government investment on industry-led R&D aimed at getting Australia to Net Zero,” said O’Dwyer.
“A group of 13 CRCs/post-CRCs over 2017-2032 is predicted to generate an increase of $1.7 billion to Australia’s real economy as a result of industry-led decarbonisation research and innovation, according to an independent study.
“We fully support and recognise ‘Transitioning to a net zero future’ as a key priority, and, next week, will be revealing more ways by which these CRCs can help propel Australia towards a sustainable, prosperous, and decarbonised future; one where Australia realises its emissions goals.
“It is encouraging to note that diversity is embedded in the Statement since, as we have noted in our submissions, such values – including the incorporation of First Nations knowledge into our innovation strategy – will leverage the full richness of Australia’s potential,” she said.
