REPORT TO THE PRIME MINISTER BY THE ADVISORY GROUP ON THE
AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL
On 9 February, 1976, you announced that you had
asked us to advise you on the role of a Science and
Technology Council, its terms of reference, and all other
matters concerning its operation.
The Group met on March 3 and March 15, 1976. We
now report to you as follows:-
1. Fol. lowing on your announcement of the formation of the
Group, the Minister for Science, the Department of
Defence and several other organizations submitted their
views in regard to the Science and Technology Council
( ASTEC). We believe there are others with a legitimate
interest in the outcome of the Government's
reexamination of ASTEC who would wish to express views
if offered the opportunity. We think that such views
should be sought and warrant careful consideration but
we were faced with the problem that this process would
mean the lapse of several months before we could make a
report to you. We understand that you are anxious to
receive an early report from us and we ourselves think
that an early report is needed because, in the
meantime, the Interim Council of ASTEC and its staff
are unable to take any initiatives pending a statement
of the Government's intentions. The reconciliation of
these conflicting thoughts lead us to recommend to you
an interim and short term course of action which would
bring the members-of the Advisory Group into ASTEC.
This course is set out in the paragraphs which follow.
2. ASTEC should continue in being with the changes in
membership and functions particularised below, but
without change of name.
3. As soon as the Council resumes work with a revised
membership, the Council should be asked to seek and
consider written submissions by interested parties
including Government Departments and Agencies,
particularly ( but not solely) in relation to ASTEC's
modus operandi. This should lead to a definitive
report by the Council to you before the end of 1976.
4. We recommend that, for the time being, the Council be
given as i'ts terms of reference those set out in the
press statement from your Office of 8 December 1975,
the relevant part of which reads as follows:
the Australian Science and Technology Council will
be absolutely independent. ASTEC will advise on the
whole range of science and technology matters in
Government and on the relations between the Government,
universities and industry. The Council will be the
major independent advisor to Government on such matters
as:
2.
The development and application of science and
technology to national needs and objectives.
New areas of science and technology which are of
importance to Australia, including fields of
industrially and commercially oriented research
and development.
The balance, adequacy and effectiveness of
national efforts in various fields of science and
technology, including defence science, and means
for improving efficiency in the use of resources.
The relative importance of efforts in those fields
of science and technology which may contribute to
national economic and social development and
welfare and to the advancement of scientific
knowledge. The effective development and utilisation of
scientific and technological manpower.
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. The Council
will be a body of the highest status and greatest
independence."
We believe that ad hoc committees and working parties
will have to be used for specific tasks if and when the
need arises in order to provide a wider range of
experience than is possible from within the Council
itself. Any reports by these committees should be
discussed and approved for publication by the Council.
Early publication of Council reports will in many cases
be desirable in order to give an opportunity for
comments from the scientific and the industrial
community before firm decisions on policy are taken by
Government. Before establishing a committee or working
party the Council should obtain Prime Ministerial
approval.
6. In order that the Council may be seen to be as fully
independent as is reasonably practicable it should not
have a special relationship with any department or
ministry having a significant concern with scientific
and technological research and development. For this
reason we strongly recommend that the Council's
Secretariat should be located for the time being within
the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and
that Council should always report directly to the Prime
Minister.
3.
7. We consider that the Council's work should take
cognizance of the programmes and policies of
Commonwealth Government departments and agencies which
are concerned with science and technology. We see a
need for the Council to be constantly aware of the
attitudes and opinions of such Departments. We believe
that special arrangements should be made to foster
mutual understanding of the work of the Council on the
one hand and relevant Government Departments on the
other.. It is therefore recommended that the Permanent
Heads concerned, or their representatives, should be
invited to attend all meetings of the Council but
without voting rights and without any responsibility
for the Council's decisions. They should be able to
participate freely in the discussions but be excluded
from any presentation of the Council's decisions.
These Departments and Agencies, which have a
significant research and development budget, are:
Department of Defence
Department of Health
Department of National Resources
Department of Post and Telecommunications
Department of Science
and C. S. I. R. O.
Other Departments and Agencies should be offered
similar opportunities to participate as observers as
the need arises.
8. The Council should take care not to engage in work
already being handled in other ways, and should inform
itself on the activities of other Government bodies
dealing with science and technology matters,
particularly bodies such as the Minerals Council, the
Agricultural Council and the proposed Energy Council
which have been established to co-ordinate Commonwealth
and State Government policies.
9. We believe that the Council should consult with
universities, academies and other relevant bodies with
a view to establishing liaison on matters of mutual
interest and to avoid duplication of effort. This
contact should range from seeking expert advice to
requests for studies to be undertaken, but any action
involving financial cost should require prior Prime
Ministerial approval.
Membership: We attach in a covering letter a panel of
names for your consideration for membership of the new
Interim Council.
11. Since our plan is that a fuller and more definitive
report be made to you by the reconstructed Council by
the end of 1976 in the expectation that the Government
will then make long term decisions in regard to ASTEC,
we recommend that the term of office of members of the
reconstituted Council should be for one year only.
12. The question of legislation to establish the Council as
a statutory body should be left in abeyance until the
position is reviewed at the end of 1976.
Dr JA. L. Mateson
Professor G. M. Badger
Professor Sir Rutherford Robertson
Professor R. Street
Sir Colin Syme
2 4 MAR 1976