RECORD FUNDING FOR SCIENCE AND INNOVATION
10 May, 2005 MINBUD 41/05
The Australian Government will commit $5.5 billion
in support of science and innovation in the 2005-06 Budget. This
includes significant contributions from the Government’s $8.3
billion 10-year Backing Australia’s Ability initiatives
announced in the 2001-02 and 2004-05 Budgets.
This investment continues to demonstrate the
significant commitment by the Australian Government to science and
innovation and underlines the importance of R&D and innovation in
enabling key sectors of the Australian economy to maintain
competitive advantage in an increasingly globalised environment.
More broadly, the Australian Government recognises
that it is our scientists and researchers who will help us
understand and address the economic, social and environmental
challenges we face. Whether it be the issues faced by an ageing
population, land degradation or climate change, it will be
scientists who will guide our response.
If we are to tackle these and other issues
successfully, Australia must continue to build a world-class
innovation system. This is an ambitious agenda and it depends on
effective partnerships between governments at all levels,
researchers and business which will share the substantial financial
investment and provide the support necessary to ensure that ideas
are successfully converted to reality.
In this, the Howard Government’s tenth Budget,
university research will also benefit from an increase in funding
administered by the Australian Research Council.
This funding has increased from $481 million in
2004-05 to $556.5 million in 2005-06, an increase of 15.6%.
Including performance based block funding through the Higher
Education Support Act, the Australian Government’s support for
university research and research training in the 2005-06 Budget will
total $1.808 billion.
Promoting an environmentally sustainable nation is
one of the four National Research Priorities announced by the Prime
Minister in 2002. Funding for environmental R&D and innovation
programmes administered by the Environment and Heritage Portfolio,
has increased by 18.7%, from $154.7 million in 2004-05 to $183.7
million in 2005-06.
The increased support for environmental research and
innovation programmes is a recognition of Australia’s need to
strengthen local expertise and to actively participate in the global
push to develop environmentally sustainable technologies.
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research
Organisation (CSIRO) will invest $68.5 million in new facilities
over the period 2005-06 to 2007-08.
The investment programme will encompass:
- Relocation of CSIRO Atmospheric Research and CSIRO
Manufacturing and Infrastructure Technology to CSIRO’s major
Victorian site at Clayton;
- Construction of a new Bioscience Laboratory building at CSIRO
entomology in Canberra; and
- Expansion of CSIRO Minerals facilities at Waterford in Perth.
These capital investments will assist in building
critical mass in CSIRO research programmes and developing its
research capabilities, further strengthening Australia’s pre-eminent
scientific research institution.
Media Contacts:
Dr Nelson’s Office: Yaron Finkelstein 0414 927 663
Dept of Education, Science & Training: Virginia Cook 0412 971 323
THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT'S 2005-06 SCIENCE AND INNOVATION BUDGET
TABLES
TABLE 1. SUMMARY OF MAJOR COMMONWEALTH SUPPORT FOR SCIENCE AND
INNOVATION THROUGH THE BUDGET AND OTHER APPROPRIATIONS - ACTUAL COST
IN YEAR INCURRED
TABLE 2. MAJOR COMMONWEALTH RESEARCH AGENCIES - BUDGET EXPENDITURES
TABLE 3. MAJOR R&D GRANTING PROGRAMMES AND OTHER SUPPORT FOR SCIENCE
AND INNOVATION THROUGH THE BUDGET
TABLE 4. ESTIMATED COSTS OF PROGRAMMES AND INCENTIVES PROVIDING
SUPPORT FOR SCIENCE AND INNOVATION THROUGH SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS
AND OTHER MEASURES
TABLE 5. COMMONWEALTH SUPPORT BY SOCIO-ECONOMIC OBJECTIVES
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