PRIME MINISTER
PRESS STATEMENT 13 APRIL 1978
AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL
BILL 1978
SECOND READING SPEECH
In a statement on 19 April last year, I informed the House of
the Government's decision to establish the Australian Science
and Technology Council ( or " ASTEC") as a permanent statutory
body. The purpose of this Bill is to put that decision into effect,
thereby ensuring that the Government-will have available to
it, on a continuing basis, independent advice of the highest
calibre on matters of science and technology.
The original forerunner of the present ASTEC was an advisory
committee on science and technology, the formation of which
was announced by the Rt. Hon. the Member for Lowe
( Sir William McMahon) in April 1972. I was the responsible
Minister at that time, and the formation of the Committee
reflected the great importance which the then Government
attached to having independent, expert advice on these matters.
After the change of Government, the advisory committee was
disbanded in February 1973. Two years later, an interim ASTEC
was formed. After the 1975 election, the interim ASTEC was
re-established, with some modifications to its membership and
functions.
In November 1976, the interim ASTEC recommended to the Government
that a permanent Australian Science and Technology Council be
established as an independent statutory body. This recommendation
was accepted. Pending the passage of legislation, the permanent
Council was established by executive action in April 1977.
Since that time, ASTEC has provided the Government with valuable
advice on a range of matters, notably its report on Energy Research
and Development which I tabled in this House on 4 April 1978.
-2-
The history of science policy advisory bodies in Australia has
been chequered. It is important that ASTEC be constituted as a
statutory body, in order to provide the Council with the status,
permanence and stability it needs to do its job effectively.
It is also very important to ensure that ASTEC be as independent
as possible of any Department of Government, and statutory status
is necessary to achieve this. The Council will report to the
Prime Minister, an administrative arrangement reflecting both
the status and independence of ASTEC.
The Bill before the House has three major purposes, intended to
guarantee ASTEC's effectiveness as a working body. First, the
functions of the Council are defined. Second, the Council is
invested with sufficiently wide powers to enable it to execute
its functions. Third, provisions are made for the independence
of the Council, to enable it to undertake its functions effectively.
The functions of the Council are defined in clause 5 of the Bill.
The Council's role will be to investigate and furnish information
and advice to the Government on science and technology, particularly
" The advancement of scientific knowledge;
the development and application of science and
technology to the furtherance of the national
wel11-being;
the adequacy, effectiveness and overall balance of
scientific and technological activities in Australia;
the identification and support of new ideas in science
and technology likely to be of national importance;
the practical development and application of scientific
discoveries; the fostering of scientific and technological innovation
in industry; and
the means of improving efficiency in the use of
resources by the application of science and technology."
These functions will allow the Council a very wide purview indeed.
It can range from pure science, to the problems of improving
efficiency in industry by applying the results of research and
development. It can consider the activities and technological
problems of higher education institutions and private enterprise.
The Government believes that this wide overview will allow ASTEC
to play an important part in ensuring that there is a worthwhile
interchange of ideas, information and new discoveries between
Government, industry and academic science and scientists.
The Council's advice to the Government on priorities and balance of
effor ' t will inevitably influence the allocation of resources by the
Government, and facilitate long-term, well-conceived forward
planning by both Government and industry.
In keeping with the quality of advice which the Council is to
provide, only people of the highest quality and standing will be
appointed as members. A proportion of the membership will have
backgrounds in various sectors of the industry, and others will
have academic backgrounds. People having a contribution to make
by virtue of special knowledge and experience can also be
appointed. Members will be selected for their personal qualities
rather than as representatives of organisations or interests.
To discharge its important functions, the Council is to be provided
with appropriate powers, listed in clauses 6 and 9, and 20 to 24
of the Bill. The Council will be able to conduct inquiries and
collect information on any aspect of its functions, either from its
own initiative or at the direction of its minister.
It is intended that the Council's reports to the Government will
be made public unless there are overwhelming reasons in the
national interest for not doing so. Clause 6 contains detailed
provisions requiring the prompt tabling in Parliament of ASTEC
reports except in the closely defined circumstances there referred
to. The Council will be able to consult widely, with Commonwealth and
State bodies, and with scientific, commercial, industrial and other
organisations. Commonwealth bodies shall provide the Council with
such assistance in the performance of its functions as is
reasonably practicable. The Council will also have powers to
engage consultants to conduct studies for it, and to arrange with
Commonwealth authorities for officers of those authorities to be
available to assist the Council. The Council will also be able to
form committees of council members and others, who will conduct
investigations on behalf of the Council, and will report their
findings and recommendations to the Council.
These powers should enable the Council to meet its responsibilities
adequately, from the conduct of basic investigations and informationgathering,
using such expert advice and assistance as are necessary,
to reporting its advice and recommendations directly to the
Government.
The third important purpose of this'legislation is the provision
of necessary independence for the Council in its actions, so that
its advice can be provided to government freely and without
unwarranted influence. Clause 8 of the Bill provides that, although
the Council will be subject to direction by the Minister, these
directions will not extend to the content of any information,
advice or report which ASTEC provides to the Minister. This will
ensure that ASTEC's advice is truly independent, and free of even
the possibility of political influence on advice which must be
founded on sound scientific judgement. / 4
-4-
Another important area where independence is ensured is in the
staffing of ASTEC. It is intended that ASTEC will be served by
a small staff of skilled officers. Such staff are to be provided
under the Public Service Act, but clause 19 of the Bill includes
provisions designed to ensure that the staff of ASTEC are under
the direction of the Council, free of any unwarranted influence
from other Commonwealth agencies. In particular, clause 19
provides specifically that staff members shall perform their
functions and duties in accordance with the directions of the
Council. Another provision designed to secure the independence of the
Council is clause 25 of the Bill, which exempts the Council and
those working for it, from legal action in relation to any
act done in good faith and in accordance with ASTEC's powers and
functions. People supplying information to the Council in good
faith will be similarly protected. This legal indemnity will
allow the Council, and its witnesses, to provide information and
advice fearlessly and candidly.
The Bill also provides proper protection for information provided
to the Council in confidence.
The above represent the more important purposes of the Bill.
There are, in addition, the usual provisions of a Bill of this
nature, concerning the appointment, terms of office and remuneration
of Council members, and acting members, and related matters. The
Council will be obliged to meet as necessary to perform its
functions. Council members will be required to disclose any
interest they may have in any matter under consideration by the
Council. Such an interest will debar the Council member involved
from taking part in any decision on the matter in question and,
if the Council sees fit, from being present at any discussions on
that matter.
Mr. Speaker, the Government believes that there is an overwhelming
case for establishing an effective science advisory body in Australia
which is an independent and permanent statutory authority. Nothing
less will properly safeguard the status, permanence and stability
of ASTEC. This Bill provides the necessary safeguards, and I
commend the Bill to the House. 0000000o