Forum of Australian Chief Scientists

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (14:37): My question is to the Minister for Science and Information Economy. Will the minister advise the chamber—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Please allow the Hon. Mr Maher to—

The Hon. T.J. Stephens: Please make sure you abuse your position.

The Hon. G.E. Gago interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Minister. I think the only thing that has been abused in this place is parliamentary privilege. That is what has been abused in this place. The Hon. Mr Maher.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: My question is to the Minister for Science and Information Economy. Will the minister advise the chamber of a visit by the Forum of Australian Chief Scientists and the risks that the federal budget poses to South Australia's hard-earned reputation as a world leader in innovative research?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (14:38): Great question. I see that the Hon. Kyam Maher does not waste his opportunities to ask good questions in this place, unlike the Hon. David Ridgway opposite.

The Hon. T.J. Stephens: Why don't you answer without reading it. Let's see how smart you are.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I can hear the Hon. Terry Stephens squealing like a stuck pig over there—

The PRESIDENT: The honourable minister, let's just cool it down.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: She did not call him a stuck pig; she said he was squealing like a stuck pig. We need to lift our game a bit on this. Really, we are going into total disrepute in this chamber. The honourable minister.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I am very pleased to inform the chamber that Australia's top science brains will be touring Adelaide's cutting-edge research facilities today as part of a meeting of the Forum of Australian Chief Scientists. Australia's Chief Scientist, Professor Ian Chubb, and the chief scientists from New South Wales and Queensland will join South Australia's Chief Scientist at key precincts in Adelaide. The forum members will have the opportunity to sample the world-class quality of our science and research facilities, including the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), the South Australian Museum and The Braggs building at the University of Adelaide.

Over the past decade, South Australia has been leading in innovative new research precincts and clusters that bring together universities, industry and researchers from around the nation and from around the world. This is, in no small part, due to the state government's continued investment in science, research and innovation to support initiatives like the Premier's Science and Industry Fund. The state government has also invested an additional $8 million in Investing in Science, the government's action plan to guide investment in science, research and innovation, which I have previously spoken about in this place.

The $8 million will boost the Premier's Research and Industry Fund and increase the Catalyst Research Grants from four last year to 15 to particularly assist younger researchers. In total, approximately $170 million per year from across government is supporting the delivery of the 41 actions detailed in the Investing in Science action plan. It is no surprise that this government's investment is in stark contrast to the Tony Abbott Liberal government's investment in science, research and innovation. In this year's federal budget we have seen wideranging cuts to science and research programs, which will have a significant impact on South Australia's innovative research. This comes at a time when the state is working to attract world-class researchers.

The Abbott Liberal government's budget has cut more than $845 million over five years to national innovation and commercialisation programs. These cuts will significantly hamper South Australia's ability to innovate and prosper through its own science and research work. This is at a time when we should be boosting the nation's expenditure on research and development so our businesses can continue to innovate and be counted on the world's stage, not reducing it.

These cuts send negative messages to researchers and potential investors, who may now bypass South Australia and take their money, their jobs and their innovation elsewhere. These cuts make no sense in a country that wants to prosper and this Labor state government will not stand idly by, like those opposite us, while Tony Abbott and Joe Hockey slash our science, research and innovation funding.

Part of the details include a slashing of $80 million nationally from the CRC program, the axing of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, a 1.5 percentage point reduction in assistance under the Research and Development Tax Incentive program, funding cuts to the CSIRO, the list goes on and on.