PM Transcripts

FOR MEIA 2 MARCH 1989
JOINT SMEMAEN1 WITH THE MINISTR FOR SCINC, CUSTOMS AND SMAL
BUSINESS, THE lKCI BARRY JON~ ES
The Government yesterday considered a submission on Australia's science
and technology capacity from Barry Jones, the minister for Science,
Customs and Small Business.
The Government fully agreed to the Minister's proposals to develop a
major Government statement on science and technology policy. This will
be done as a matter of priority.
The Government supported the broad thrust of the submission and agreed
that Australia had to improve its scientific capacity greatly. The
Government fully appreciates the vital role science must play in laying
the foundation for Australia's future prosperity.
In developing this statement the Government felt that input from the
range of portfolios having major interests in science would be needed to
reflect the full extent of Government involvement in scientific
activity. In particular work currently underway on various initiatives
in the Education, Employment and Training and the Primary Industry and
Energy portfolios would need to be closely integrated into the
development of the statement.
overall responsibility for co-ordinating the statement would rest with
Barry Jones while John Dawkins, would be involved with research in
tertiary institutions.
The Government decided that, although a substantial response was best
made in the context of the statement, significant progress could be made
in three areas.
Firstly, the Government has accepted the principle that CSIRO, ANSTO and
AIMS should be permitted to retain all external earnings. Accordingly
CSIRO's budget is to be increased by $ 2.1m, $ 6.6m, and $ 11.6m
respectively in 1988-89, 1989-90 and 1990-91.
Secondly, the Government will provide $ 8.4m in 1988-89 to upgrade
equipment in Government research facilities. Mr Jones is releasing a
separate statement on the equipment involved.
Thirdly, the Government will establish a Science Co-ordinating Committee
and appoint a Chief Science Advisor to chair it. The Advisor will
report directly to Mr Jones. The Co-ordinating Committee will give
particular attention to science issues extending beyond the
responsibility of any one Government portfolio.