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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-02-28 Daily Xml
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OLIPHANT CENTRE

277 Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (23 October 2007).

1. Will the Task Force recommendations and proposal for a regional specialist centre for science, technology and Innovation to be known as the Oliphant Centre be adopted?

2. How much funding has or will be allocated to create the Oliphant Centre at Mawson Lakes?

3. Will a similar science centre be built in the southern suburbs?

4. How does the government envisage the centre working closely with the former Investigator Science and Technology Centre?

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for Youth, Minister for Gambling):

1. The proposal has been considered within the context of a number of other state government initiatives for promoting the importance of science and innovation, and the government is not planning to adopt the recommendations.

The state government remains committed to developing the science, engineering and technology skills of our workforce and has implemented a number of statewide initiatives with this goal.

For example, the state government is providing over $228,000 per annum for the next three years to the CSIRO's science education centre here in Adelaide, to enable it to expand its science education programs in our primary and secondary schools.

Cabinet has also approved the establishment of the Royal Institution Australia Centre at an initial cost of $5 million in 2006-07 to enhance both public debate and awareness of scientific issues as well as inspire interest and participation in science.

These initiatives are in addition to those of the Bragg Initiative, which includes establishment of the Australian Science Media Centre here in Adelaide, the Science Outside the Square program and its series of science-themed promotion events, and the successful Twinning Teachers and Scientists program which has influenced the rollout of a similar program nationally entitled 'Scientists in Schools'.

2. No funding has been allocated to create the Oliphant Centre at Mawson Lakes.

3. There already exists the Australian Science and Mathematics School in the southern suburbs. Moreover, collaboration between the South Australian Government and Flinders University has also provided a base for the new Flinders Centre for Science Education with the objective of becoming an internationally known centre of excellence in research into science education. The State Government (via DFEEST, DTED and DECS) has allocated $300,000 over three years, from 2007-08 to 2009-10 for this purpose

4. The Investigator Science and Technology Centre ceased trading in December 2006.

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