PM Transcripts

. AU ST R ALIA.
PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA 11 JULY 1988
on the advice of the Australian Science and Technology Council
( ASTEC) I am today announcing the amalgamation of ASTEC with its
standing committee, the Technological Change Committee ( TCC).
This integration will ensure that not only the benefits of new
technology, but also its effects on those immediately concerned
and on the wider Australian community, will be fundamental
elements for consideration by ASTEC in all aspects of its work
program. Established at the Government's request in 1980, the TCC has been
responsible for maintaining a continuing review of processes and
trends in technological change and evaluating and reporting on
their social and economic effects. While located with ASTEC it
has operated with its own secretariat and work program.
In recent years there has been growing recognition of the need to
achieve a balance between the advice provided by ASTEC, which has
generally promoted the use of new technology where it can be
shown to offer economic advantages, and that of the TCC, which
has been more concerned with the social consequences of
technological change. It is important that a balance in these
perspectives be reflected when views and recommendations are
presented to the Government. The Council and TCC members have
agreed that this can best be done by combining the functions and
responsibilities of the two bodies. An added benefit of such a
move will be a streamlining of procedures for the preparation and
approval of reports.
In future people with credentials in technology assessment,
either those who have served on the TCC or others who have gained
such experience elsewhere will be appointed to the Council.
ASTEC membership will encompass the expertise required to ensure
full consideration of the societal impacts of new technologies in
all its undertakings.
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