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Matthew James and Louise Emmett
Overview
Super Science Support
Innovation—Powering Ideas: an Innovation
Agenda for the 21st Century
Bureau of Meteorology
Antarctica
Bushfire Cooperative Research
Centre—extension
Overview
Scientists, particularly space scientists, astronomers and
biologists, should be well pleased with the Budget’s increased spending for
support of technology, science and innovation. In general there is a 25 per
cent increase for investment in these science sectors, focused on space and astronomy,
marine research, molecular biology, and nanotechnology, all to facilitate technology
creation and commercialisation. The Government announced a new Commonwealth
Commercialisation Institute and establishment of the Royal Institution of
Australia, along with the various initiatives above under a Super Science
banner.[1] The Science
and Innovation Budget Tables provide further
breakdowns by agencies across portfolios.[2]
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research
Organisation (CSIRO) may have problems, while it gains a $45 million
increase in funding this year, there is a loss of $180 million due to reductions in funding from private and other non–government
players. Nonetheless, CSIRO may benefit from a large payout following its legal
success in pursuing 14 computer companies over their unlicensed use of its patented
wireless telecom technology. This will be accounted for in next year’s CSIRO annual
report as income from royalties.
Super Science Support
Space Science and Astronomy
Space and astronomy receive an allocation of $160.5 million
including $80.0 million in funds for a new astronomy–computing program, at
an Australian National Centre of Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Science in Perth,
in conjunction with the SKA telescope project;
$20.9 million in extra funds for the Anglo–Australian Observatory, with
Australia to take over sole responsibility for the facility, plus $10.0 million
in new instruments; a four year $40 million Australian Space Research
Program; and a $8.6 million Space Policy Unit to coordinate national space
policy.[3] The latter two initiatives can be seen as a response to the critical findings
of the 2008 Senate Economics Committee’s Inquiry
into the Current State of Australia's Space Science & Industry Sector.[4]
Marine Science
As part of the Marine and Climate initiative (detailed
further in the ‘Climate change and energy’ brief in this Budget Review), $120 million
is provided for CSIRO to build a new deep water research vessel to replace
Australia’s existing 38 year old craft which itself receives $29.6 million
for maintenance over three years while the new vessel is completed. As well, the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) has $55 million in new infrastructure funding over
three years to enable expansion of experimental seawater facilities at its
Townsville headquarters.[5]
Future Industries
This initiative provides $504 million, including $115 million
for bio–molecular, drug and bioinformatics research facilities; as well as an
$8 million European Molecular Biology Laboratory Australia Partner
Laboratory; a new National Enabling Technologies Strategy worth $38.1 million;
some $62 million for the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
(ANSTO) neutron beam facilities; $50 million in support for nanotechnology
research; and $182 million in funds for advanced Information and
Communication Technology (ICT) platforms. The latter investment is at the National
ICT Australia (NICTA) research and commercialisation facility which receives,
in total, $185.5 million over four years from the Department of Broadband,
Communications and the Digital Economy and the Australian Research Council
(ARC). The National Enabling Technologies Strategy funds new biotechnology and
nanotechnology laboratories.[6]
Fellowships
There is $27.2 million over four years for 100 new Super
Science Fellowships worth $72 500 a year for early–career young
researchers. These will be offered in space science and astronomy, marine and
climate science, and future industries in life sciences and nanotechnology.[7]
Other Measures
An extra $11.3 million for Questacon, Australia’s
National Science and Technology Centre will support its activities.[8] For the establishment of a Royal Institution of Australia, akin to the British Royal
Institution national science exchange, there is $15.0 million.[9] The Government will also provide $50.0 million over four years for a
competitive grant program for the bionic eye in Australia.[10] The program will be established under the ARC Special Research
Initiatives Scheme. The Prime Minister’s 2020 Summit
identified the bionic eye as a significant opportunity to improve the quality
of life for the vision–impaired.
Innovation—Powering Ideas: an
Innovation Agenda for the 21st Century
The Federal Government used the Budget to launch this new
paper on innovation in response to the 2008 ‘Cutler’ report Venturous
Australia: Building Strength in Innovation and various related reviews
of the industry and education sectors.[11] The Powering
Ideas paper canvasses proposed improvements and incremental changes to
the existing National Innovation System but does not link to significant Budget
funding.[12]
There is $52 million to establish a Collaborative
Research Networks program to help smaller and regional universities develop
their research capacity by partnering with other institutions.[13] Some $196.1 million over four years is to foster a Commonwealth
Commercialisation Institute as a means of commercialising Australian research
and early stage company development.[14] Note that there are some funding increases under the program An Innovation and
Higher Education System for the 21st Century for the Education
Investment Fund, and the Sustainable Research Excellence in Universities that are
shared between the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
and the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research portfolios.
Bureau of Meteorology
Weather forecasting will be improved with the investment of
$94.7 million. The commitment provides $30.5 million over five years
(including $5.1 million in 2013–14) for next generation weather forecasting
and warning technology that will allow new seven–day forecasts to be available
to 650 cities and towns across Australia via interactive maps on the Bureau’s
website.[15] The national roll–out will allow increased accuracy and responsiveness to the
public and emergency services organisations during emergency events such as
bushfires.[16]
Four new radars at Croker Island/Maningrida in the Northern
Territory, Hobart, Mount Isa and Wollongong will be installed and integrated
into the current radar network over a five year period from 2009–10 to 2012–13
at a total cost of $48 million over seven years.[17] The new radars will address priority radar
coverage gaps. In addition, the Bureau will now retain revenue of $16.1 million
over four years from 1 January 2010 for providing specialised weather
services to the aviation and defence sectors.[18]
Antarctica
Funding for Australia’s Antarctic science and research
program is to be increased by an extra $25.2 million over two years,
provided to the Australian Antarctic Division.[19] In 2009–10 funding of $11.7 million will continue the operations of the Airlink
between Australia and Antarctica.[20] This funding underpins scientific research, maintenance of infrastructure at
the three Antarctic stations, the Wilkins aerodrome and the station on
Macquarie Island.[21] The Government committed $46.3 million over four years in the 2005–06
Budget to construct a 3.6 kilometre glacial blue–ice runway at Wilkins
aerodrome, 70 kilometres from the Casey station, and to fund the Airlink.[22] Funding for the Airlink program beyond 2009–10 will be considered after the 2009
flying season.[23]
Bushfire Cooperative Research
Centre—extension
As agreed with the Australian Greens during the Nation
Building and Jobs Plan negotiations in February, the Government will provide
$15.0 million over three years from 2010–11 to the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) in Melbourne.[24] The CRC’s previous funding of $28.9 million covered 2003–2010. The CRC
coordinates research on bushfires, focussing on prevention and suppression of
bushfires, community awareness, and protection of life and property.
The Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities
Council (AFAC) and the Bushfire CRC are currently seeking partners in a bid to
the Federal Government for long term funding.[25] Apart from $15 million for the Bushfire CRC there is no additional funding
for the Cooperative Research
Centres program.
[1]. K Carr (Minister for
Innovation, Industry, Science and Research), Super science initiative,
media release, 12 May 2009, viewed 19 May 2009, http://minister.innovation.gov.au/Carr/Pages/SUPERSCIENCEINITIATIVE.aspx
[2]. Department of Innovation,
Industry, Science and Research, The Australian Government’s 2009–10 Science
and Innovation Budget Tables, Department of Innovation, Industry, Science
and Research, Canberra 2009, viewed 18 May 2009,
http://www.innovation.gov.au/General/Corporate/Documents/2009-10SITables.pdf
[3]. K Carr (Minister for
Innovation, Industry, Science and Research), Super science – space and
astronomy, media release, 12 May 2009, viewed 19 May 2009,
http://minister.innovation.gov.au/Carr/Pages/
SUPERSCIENCESPACEANDASTRONOMY.aspx
[4]. Senate Standing Committee on
Economics, Inquiry into the current state of Australia's space science &
industry sector, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra, 2008, viewed
18 May 2009, http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/economics_ctte/space_08/info.htm
[5]. K Carr (Minister for
Innovation, Industry, Science and Research), Super science – marine and
climate, media release, 12 May 2009, viewed
19 May 2009, http://minister.innovation.gov.au/Carr/Pages/SUPERSCIENCEMARINEANDCLIMATE.aspx
[6]. K Carr (Minister for
Innovation, Industry, Science and Research), Super science – future
industries, media release, 12 May 2009, viewed
19 May 2009, http://minister.innovation.gov.au/Carr/Pages/SUPERSCIENCEFUTUREINDUSTRIES.aspx
[7]. Australian Government, ‘Part
2: Expense measures’, Budget measures: budget paper no.2: 2009–2010,
Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra, 2009, p. 362, viewed
19 May 2009, http://www.aph.gov.au/budget/2009-10/content/bp2/download/bp_2.pdf
[8]. Carr, Super science
initiative.
[9]. Budget measures: budget
paper no.2: 2009–2010, p. 366.
[10]. Budget measures: budget
paper no.2: 2009–2010, p. 364; K Carr (Minister for Innovation, Industry,
Science and Research) and N Roxon (Minister for Health and Ageing), 2020
gives research boost for bionic eye, media release,
22 April 2009, viewed 18 May 2009,
http://minister.innovation.gov.au/Carr/Pages/
2020GIVESRESEARCHBOOSTFORBIONICEYE.aspx; note that the latter source states that $50.7
million will be provided while the budget papers allow only $50.0 million.
DIISR has advised that the additional $700 000 is provided for as part of
their departmental administrative expenses.
[11]. Cutler &Company Pty Ltd, Venturous
Australia: building strength in innovation, report prepared for the
Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Canberra, 2008, viewed
18 May 2009, http://www.innovation.gov.au/innovationreview/Documents/NIS_review_Web3.pdf
[12]. Department of Innovation,
Industry, Science and Research, Powering ideas: an innovation agenda for the
21st century, Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and
Research, Canberra, 2009, viewed 18 May 2009,
http://www.innovation.gov.au/innovationreview/Documents/PoweringIdeas_fullreport.pdf
[13]. K Carr ((Minister for
Innovation, Industry and Science), Collaborative research networks,
budget fact sheet, 12 May 2009, viewed 19 May 2009,
http://www.innovation.gov.au/General/Corporate/
Documents/collaborativeresearch_budgetfactsheet0910.pdf
[14]. K Carr, (Minister for
Innovation, Industry and Science), Making ideas reality: Commonwealth
Commercialisation Institute, media release, 12 May 2009, viewed
19 May 2009, http://minister.innovation.gov.au/Carr/Pages/
MAKINGIDEASREALITYCOMMONWEALTHCOMMERCIALISATIONINSTITUTE.aspx
[15]. P Garrett (Minister for the
Environment, Heritage and the Arts), $94.7 million boost for Bureau of
Meteorology, media release, 12 May 2009, viewed 19 May 2009, http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/garrett/2009/budmr20090512f.html
[16]. Budget
measures: budget paper no.2: 2009–2010, p. 193.
[17]. Budget measures: budget
paper no.2: 2009–2010, p. 193.
[18]. Budget
measures: budget paper no.2: 2009–2010, p. 192.
[19]. Budget
measures: budget paper no.2: 2009–2010, p. 198.
[20]. Budget measures: budget
paper no.2: 2009–2010, p. 190.
[21] Australian Antarctic Division, $36.9 million to keep Australia’s Antarctic program on track, media
release, 13 May 2009, viewed 19 May 2009, http://www.aad.gov.au/default.asp?casid=36333&source=17&rank=1
[22]. Australian Government, Portfolio
budget statements 2005–06: fact sheet: Antarctic Air Link, Commonwealth of
Australia, 2005, viewed 19 May 2009, http://www.environment.gov.au/about/publications/budget/2005/factsheet-airlink.html
[23] Budget measures: budget
paper no.2: 2009–2010, p. 190.
[24]. Budget measures: budget
paper no.2: 2009–2010, p. 364.
[25]. Bushfire CRC, ‘Proposal for a
new Cooperative Research Centre’, Bushfire CRC website, viewed 19 May 2009, http://www.bushfirecrc.com/rebid_section/index.html
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