PM Transcripts

STATEMENT BY THlE PRIME MINISTER, K
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE J. M. FRASER.
REPORT OF TI-E ADVISORY GROUP ON THlE SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL
On 9 February I announced that Dr J. A. L. Matheson,
the Chairman of the Interim Australian Science and Technology
Council had been asked to form a small Advisory Group to
advise me on the role of a continuing science and technology
council, its terms of reference and of other matters concerning
its operation. The Advisory Group reported to me on 24 March. It
recommends an interim and short term course of action, bringing
the Advisory Group into the Interim Australian Science and
Technology Council ( ASTEC), which would continue with changed
membership and functions. The first task of the Council will
be the preparation, by the end of 1976, of a definitive report
to assist the Government in its decisions on the long-term
future of ASTEC. In this task, the. Council will consult with
interested parties, including Government Departments and
Agencies. The Permanent Heads of Departments and Agencies
with a significant research and development budget will be able
to participate in the discussions of the Council to foster
mutual understanding. The Council will also consult with
universities, academies and other relevant bodies. In
recognition of its short-term nature the terms of office for
members of the reconstituted Council will be for one year only.
The Advisory Group also recommends that the Council
should be independent of any Department or Ministry having a
significant concern with scientific and technological resource
and development. This is consistent with my statement of
8 December 1975 that, as the problems of science involve all
areas of Government and are of the highest importance to
Australia, ASTEC will report directly to the Prime Minister
who will report to Parliament. I have therefore confirmed that
the Council should report directly to me and decided that its
secretariat should be located for the time being within my
Department. The membership of the reconstituted Council will be
announced as soon as those approached have indicated their
willingness to serve.
I wish to place on record my appreciation of'* the
work of the Advisory Group and the speed with which they made
their report.
29 April 1976