18. May. 92 15: 49 No. 011 P. 01/ 04
PRIME MINISTER 49/ 92
JOINT STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P J KEATING, MP
AND THE MINISTER ASSISTING THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE MINISTER
FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, THE HON ROSS FREE, MP
THE SIXTH MEETING OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S SCIENCE COUNCIL
The Prime Minister's Science Council met today for the sixth
time. The Prime Minister, who chaired the Science Council for
the first time, recognised it as an important peak body for
considering science and technoloLgyssues of national
significance. The Prime Minister announced the retirement of the Chief
Scientist, Professor Ralph Slatyer AO FAA FRS, at the end of
his three year term. This will become effective after the
completion of the White Paper on Science and Technology in
August this year. on behalf of-he Government, fiie-Prime
Minister expressed appreciation for Professor Slatyer's role
in the establishment of the science and technology policy and
coordination mechanisms which were announced in the May 1989
Science and Technology Statement.
The Prime Minister also acknowledged Professor Slatyer's
reputation as one of Australia's outstanding scientists. The
importance of Professor Slatyer's standing in both the
international and national scientific communities has been
reflected in his provision of high quality and objective
advice to Government. The Government wishes to continue to
draw upon Professor Slatyer's expertise and has asked him to
chair the Cooperative Research Centres Committee until the
completion of the third round of the Program.
The Prime Minister welcomed two new members to the Science
Council Mr Mal Bryce, Chairman of the Western Australian
Technology and Industry Advisory Council and Professor Michael
airt, recently appointed Chairman of the Australian Science
and Technology Council.
The first major item considered by the Science Council was a
presentation on the manufacturing technology industry in
Australia given by Mr Jac Nasser, President of the Ford Motor
Company in Australia, and Dr Peter Robinson, Chief of the
CSIRO Division of Manufacturing Technology. The paper was
TEL
T1E8L:. May. 92 15: 49 No. 011 P. 02/ 01
2
prepared by an independent working group consisting of senior
people from industry, research organisations, higher education
institutions and Government. It notes that if Australian
manufacturing is to become internationally competitive, it
needs to focus increasingly on value-adding on elaborately
transformed manufacturers. it argues that to do this,
industry must focus on product differentiation and will
require appropriate highly skilled teams and a well
coordinated national research and development and education
and training infrastructure.
The second major presentation focused on the information
technology and telecommunications industry. This paper was
also prepared by an independent working group, and was unusual
in that it considered the information technology and
telecommunications industries under one umbrella. The Report
found that both industries formed the essential infrastructure
of modern economies and were vital for increasing productivity
across all industry sectors. The presenters were Mr Roger
Allen, Science Council member and the Managing Director of
Computer Power Group, Dr Greg Clark, Director of Science and
Technology for IBM Australia and Mr Bill Page-Hanify, Managing
Director of Alcatel Australia.
Reports from both these working groups will be released today.
The final major presentation examined the scientific aspects
of major environmental topics. There were three presentations
prepared and presented by Australian scientific experts in
these fields. Dr Graeme Pearman, Assistant Chief of the CSIRO
Division of Atmospheric Science spoke about the status of
scientific knowledge on climate change, and Dr Brian Walker,
Chief of the CSIRO Division of Wildlife and Ecology and Dr
Peter Bridgewater, Executive officer for the Australian
National Parks and Wildlife service, spoke about aspects of
biodiversity. The Science Council discussions ended with consideration of
issues relating to the White Paper on Science and Technology
being developed and presented by Mr Free in his capacity as
Minister for Science and Technology and Minister Assisting, in
the context of the 1992-93 Budget.
CANBERRA May 18 1992
Attached: Current membership of the Prime Minister's Science
Council Reports considered by the Science Council ( available from
the Office of the Chief Scientist 271 5462)
" The CIY.. nging Role of Manufacturing Technology"
" Information Technology and Telecommunications
Looking to the Year 2000"
TEL
18. May. 92 15: 49 No. 011 P. 03/ 04
MEMBERSHIP OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S SCIENCE COUNCIL
The Prime Minister ( Chair)
The Hon Ross Free, MP ( Deputy Chair)
Minister for Science and Technology
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister
Thc Hon Kim C Bcazley, MP
Minister for Employment, Education and Training
Senator the Hon John Button,
Minister for Industry, Technology and Commerce
The Hon Simon Crean, MP
Ministcr for Primary Industries and Energy
The Hon Brian Howe, MP
Minister for Health, Housing and Community Services
The Hon Ros Kelly, MP
Ministcr for the Arts, Sport, the Environment
and Territories
The Hon John Kerin, MP
Minister for Trade and Ovcrseas Development
Mr Roger Allen, Managing Director, Computer Power Group Ltd
Professor Brian Anderson, FAA, TS, FRS
Head of the Department of Systems Engineering, Research School of Physical
Sciences, Australian National University
Professor L M ( Michael) Birt, AO, CBE
Chairman, Australian Science and Technology Council
Mr Mal Bryce, AO, Chairperson,
Western Australian Technology and Industry Advisory Council
Profcssor David Craig, AO, FAA, FRS
President, Australian Academy of Science
Mr Trevor Eastwood, Managing Director, Wcsfarmers Limited
Mr Denis Hanley, Chairman, Memtec Limited
Mr Keith Harvey, National Research Officer,
Federated Clerks' Union of Australia
Professor Ken McKinnon
Prcsident, Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee
Sir Rupert Myers, KBE, FTS
President, Australian Academy of Tecimological Sciences and Engineering
TEL
18. May. 92 15: 49 No. 011 P. 04/ 04
Sir Gustav Nossal, AC, CBE, FAA, TS, FRS
Director, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute
of Medical Research
Professor Cheryl Praeger
Professor of Pure Mathematics, University of Western Australia
Mr John Ralph, AO
Managing Director and Chicf Executive, CRA Limited
Dr John Stocker, FTS
Chief Executive, CSIRO
Professor Ralph Slatyer, AO, FAA, FRS
Chief Scientist ( Executive Officer)
April 1992 TEL: