TEL: 24. Jun. 94 14: 34 No. 017 P. 01/ 02
PRIME MINISTER 52/ 94
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P. J. KEATING MP
SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING COUNCIL
Together with several of my Ministerial colleagues, I met a number of leading
scientists, engineers and business people at today's meeting of my Science
and Engineering Council.
The Council discussed some areas of technicaf and economic development
critical to the future prosperity of Australia, many of which were addressed in
Working Nation.
Working Nation is about looking to the future, making decisions today which
will give us an innovative and competitive future using and developing our
skills and our science and technology base.
An important feature of our future will be the so-called ' information. super
highways', which will transform all our lives over the coming years. We
discussed these today at my Science and Engineering Council.
My Government has a keen interest in seeing Australia reap maximum
benefits from the development of the information super highway.
We established the Broadband Services Expert Group last year to advise it
on the technical, economic and commercial preconditions for the widespread
delivery of broadband services in Australia.
The Group reported to Council today on its progress, and expects to release
an interim report around the end of July 1994, and a final report by the end of
1994.
My Government also commissioned a report from the Australian Science and
Technology Council on research data networks, an information highway
already up and running. This report was discussed today by the Science and
Engineering Council before being presented to Government in August.
The Australian Academic Research Network allows our scientists and
engineers to Interact with one another and with their counterparts around the
world. It provides access to data banks, sophisticated opportunities for
Information exchange with other users, and the ability to shrink global
distances that we expect from the super highway.
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The Australian Vice Chancellors Committee has developed this network,
drawing on significant government assistance, and we now have a network
that is second only to the US.
Discussion at the meeting of my Science and Engineering Council today also
focussed on strategic directions for the Government's policies for science and
technology, and on identifying the key strategic issues needing to be
addressed. In creating an innovative future, I believe that we will need a cultural change
in our perceptions of science, technology and innovation, building an
appreciation in our society of their importance in maintaining our quality of
life. We will also need to recognise the vital role of demand for science and
technology in stimulating industry to innovate and to improve its innovative
capacity to compete globally.
At today's meeting, members discussed a new study that the Australian
Science and Technology Council is proposing to undertake, of matching
science and technology to future social and economic changes in Australia
over the next fifteen years.
I consider this is an important study which should provide insights for policy
development, as well as stimulate awareness of science and technology
more generally.
I was also impressed by a presentation to Council today from leading
business people and scientists, about the opportunities that Asian food
markets provide for Australia's agri-food industry.
It confirmed the directions we are taking in responding to the Hilmer Report,.
and the initiatives announced in Working Nation.
Australian agri-food companies, with their high quality, low cost products and
high skills bases, are already increasing our presence in Asian food markets.
In the past 2 years, exports of highly processed food have increased by
$ 900 million or 39%,
It is this type of success that my Government is laying the foundations for
through the initiatives of Working Nation.
Also, through expert studies such as those I heard about today at the Science
and Engineering Council, we will be able to take a long term view, putting in
pl ace the policies and programs that will secure an innovative and
competitive future for all Australians.
CANBERRA 24 June 1994 TEL L'-4 . JU