Academy welcomes Greens' science policy

The Australian Academy of Science has welcomed the commitments made by the Australian Greens in their science policy, released today. The academy is calling on all parties to articulate a strategic approach to science policy.

The Greens intend to increase Australia’s investment in research and innovation from 2.2% of GDP to 3% by 2020. Academy President Professor Suzanne Cory was pleased by the increase, saying, “The academy has called for sustained investment in its election statement so that Australia can catch up with other OECD nations.” The Greens acknowledge that Australian investment ranks 13th among OECD member countries and significantly below the OECD average.

Professor Cory said the academy is also pleased about the manner in which the commitment is being met “through funding pledges to update critical national research infrastructure, continuing the successful Future Fellowship scheme, and through significant additional strategic investment in competitive National Health and Medical Research Council and Australian Research Council grants, and strategic international engagement”.

The Greens are committing an additional $750 million for research to address identified national priorities, which would, according to the academy, help Australia undertake the research it needs to ready itself for the big challenges that lie ahead.

Professor Cory released the academy’s election statement at the National Press Club in July, which recommended an investment increase to 3% of GDP over the next five years.

“Investing in science is an investment in our future,” she said today.

“It is through science that we can find the solutions to the most pressing problems that we face. It is vital that we make that investment now, given the scale of the challenges that lie ahead.”

Professor Les Field, the academy’s secretary for science policy, said he hopes the release of the Greens’ science policy statement will prompt a higher election campaign focus on education, science and health. He said the community expects the other major parties to put forward their plans and the academy looks forward to hearing them.