EMBARGOED AGAINST DELIVERY
( EXPECTED AROUND 9: 30 PM)
3 AUSTRALIA&
PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS 31 OCTOBER ' 1978
ADDRESS TO THE SECOND INVITATION SYMPOSIUM OF THE. AATS 1978
Mr. President, Fellows of the Academy of Technological
Sciences, ladies and gentlemen. I am very pleased indeed to
be here tonight and to be able to make a contribution to the
Academy's second invitation symposium.
The subject of this symposium our " Land and Water Resources"
is of major importance to Australia. It warrants the impressive
calibre of the speakers the Academy has brought together.
There is increasing pressure on us to produce more food, more
timber, and more energy from the land available to us
similarly the most uneven distribution and quality of water resources
in Australia present us with a constant challenge. The challenge
has led to a great deal of effective research and innovation,
but from time to time it is necessary to review what we have
done so far, and seeking the best and most experienced advice,
decide what now needs to be done.* I commend the Academy for
undertaking this task.
The impact of technology has attracted considerable public
attention in the last few months. This must have caused some
wry smiles amongst many of you here tonight, for this is
hardly a new issue for you. It is important that we respond
effectively and sensitively to the rapid spread of technological
change in the factory, and in the office. Although adapting
to technological change can be a difficult process, innovations
in technology are the cornerstone of social and industrial
development and have given rise to the living standards
enjoyed by advanced industrial societies.' Technology, when
progressively developed, increases the returns-from our people,
from our natural resources, from all our assets. Technological
advance in industry means improvements in productivity,
downward pressure on the overall cost structure, a more
competitive Australian economy. The adoption of new
technology permits the continued improvement of our standard
of living and creates opportunities for employment through the
expansion of existing industries and the creation of new ones.
-2-
Australia has an enormous technological potential. We have
vast resources. Our people are well-educated and creative,
our science and scientists have reached high levels of
sophistication and achieved significant recognition in the
world community of science. No one can doubt the outstakiding
contributions our scientists have made..'
I should, however, say that this record is not always matched
by the'application of the knowledge our scientists develop,
or to which they have access. We have not advanced our
technologies to the same extent as some of our developed
trading partners, nor have we always responded as well as we
might to the needs of the market place. The recent ASTEC
report, " Science and Technology in Australia 1977-78" for
instance, suggests that our record could be better in developing
the results that come from research, and translating these
into technological innovations in industry. if we are to
apply knowledge in the pursuit of our industrial and other
national objectives, we must continue to increase-and
strengthen the national technological base. We should be
concerned with the recognition given to technologists who are
people of the utmost importance in Australia. Too often,
technologists have been seen as following a lesser occupation,
a lesser profession than that of research scientists. But
the effort, the ability, the creative skills required in
technological innovation are of the same order as those of
the scientist.
Technologists have a great part to play in Australia's
development and the foundation of this Academy is an appropriate
recognition of that fact. To emphasise technology and
technologists however is not to de-emphasise science.
Technology and science interact, and the more we can understand
and manage this interaction, the more practical benefits the
community will derive from Australian scientific andtechnological
expertise. It is essential that our organisational
arrangements reflect this basic need-and that the closest links
and cooperation be forged between Government Departments,
Government research institutions, industry and the academic
world. When my Government came to office, we embarked on a major
strategy to achieve this. We knew it was essential that
Australian industry expand into new areas, based on Australian
expertise and innovation, and using to the full the advantage
which our vast natural resources give us. Our objective was
to provide industry with better opportunities to seize on new
knowledge, to turn it to use, in improving existing products
and processes in generating new product lines, and in
increasing our exports to t Lp the growing overseas markets
particularly in our region.'. / 3
-3
Elements of our strategy have been the establishment of a
permanent Australian Science and Technology Council; a
comprehensive review of the establishment of the
Department of Productivity; a review of Government policy-. on
manufacturing industry; the creation of the Bureau of
Industry Economics and the commissioning of a number of
specialist studies, notably the Crawford and Williams Enquiries.
together, these initiatives constitute a dyn . amic offensive
designed to encourage Australian industry to use more
effectively modern science and technology
Let me now say a few words about a couple of developments
which illustrate the success of this strategy. The
invention of Interscan, which has been adopted as the
new world standard for aircraft landing systems, has
been widely recognised as a significant Australian
achievement. Work has commenced on a new project designed
to make sure that Australian industry obtains a commercial benefit
from Interscan and a new company, " Interscan Australia" has been
set up for this purpose.
The Department Ofof Productivity is also currently developing
proposals on a public interest project'which should be of
particular interest to this Symposium. The essence of the
proposals is that Australian companies be awarded contracts
to develop and demonstrate water treatment systems based on
technology resulting from research by CSIRO and Australian
companies to convert brackish and turbid water into good quality
drinking water.' If we can develop a unique capability in the
design and construction of such treatment systems, we can
greatly improve the quality of water in many parts of our nation
and open up immense prospects for Australian exports to the dry
regions of the Middle East and Africa.
The Government has taken these various initiatives because it
is convinced that the development and application of technology
will contribute significantly to the prosperity and living
conditions of all Australians.
Ladies and gentlemen, Australians have every reason for confidence
in the future. With a more stable cost base, we are competitive
again, and we are getting our manufactures back into world markets.
I believe that the next decade will be years in which our
industries will thrive and expand in a highly competitive and
changing world. This is a time in which we can look forward
as a nation because we can capture the future. ./ 4
4
By working together, we will make our industries Primary,
Secondary and Tertiary as modern and efficient as possible,
and make the most productive use of the skilled labour available
to us. We must do more than merely articulate the advantages
that technology brings. We must develop the most effective
balance between the use of existing technology, its adaption to
Australian conditions and the creation of new technology. We
must all think positively about the ways we perform our various
tasks and the techniques by which our efficiency of production
and quality of service might be improved.
In our response to change, your first President, Sir Ian McLennan,
by his constant application to the ever-evolving challenges facing
Australia, can serve as an outstanding example for us all. In
reaching out to grasp the opportunities that are constantly
becoming more apparent, the commitment and concerted efforts
of all Australians is vital. We seek the co-operation and
effort of all Governments Commonwealth and State with
industry, scientists and technologists thoughout Australia.
We will realise the promise the next decade holds out by forging
a partnership between Government and the community. With such
a partnership, there is nothing we cannot achieve as a nation.
ooo0000ooo