[Aqualist] The Budget and Science

[Simon Haberle]

The Budget and science: FASTS

Australia's peak body for scientists and technologists has expressed 
cautious optimism about the science Budget.

Dr David Denham, acting President of the Federation of Australian 
Scientific and Technological Societies (FASTS), said that scientists had 
some concerns going into the Budget.

"We were worried about CSIRO and the affect of reforms in the higher 
education sector, and whether funding promised under the "Backing 
Australia's Ability" package would be delivered on time and in full," he said.

"On first examination, the Budget delivers a small increase in overall 
funding for science, and continues the next tranche of funding for the 
Australian Research Council and the Cooperative Research Centres Program 
beyond the timeline of BAA, so this is positive.

"While CSIRO will be funded for one year instead of its normal three years, 
the Government has assured us that this is to allow a series of reviews and 
inquiries to be completed," he said.

"FASTS will take a close interest in the reviews.

"We welcome a small funding increase for CSIRO. This body should now be 
allowed a period of stability and certainty - it's been through tough times 
recently of change, revamp and inquiry."

Dr Denham supported the additional $61 million for Geoscience Australia to 
boost research in Australia's offshore petroleum basins.

He also welcomed support for the rebuilding of Mt Stromlo, though he was 
surprised by the modest dollars involved. He understands that the Budget 
announcement has not closed the door on further Commonwealth funding for 
the rebuilding package.

The biggest unknown from the Budget is how the higher education reforms 
will affect science. Dr Denham noted the funding boost for the tertiary 
education sector as welcome and overdue, and said it will go some way to 
restoring the cuts made by the Government since 1996.

"The package is heavily back-loaded, with only $69 million due before the 
next Federal election, so relief for Australia's universities is still on 
the horizon.

"It's difficult to predict how science will be affected by the new 
arrangements," he said.

"Australia's long-term future is inextricably linked to our investment in 
science and research, but it is expensive to teach, and expensive to 
conduct research. Will universities have the incentives to encourage them 
to be active in these areas?"

FASTS also welcomed the expanded number of places for teachers, but also 
called for science and mathematics to be made a specific National Priority 
cluster.

The Budget partially addresses the issue of the research funding "cliff" - 
what happens in 2006 when BAA funding has run its course - through pipeline 
measures for continuing the expanded funding of the ARC, the Cooperative 
Research centres Program and the START Program.

For interview: Dr David Denham (02) 6295 3014
For information: Toss Gascoigne (02) 6257 2891; 0408 704 442
-- 
Mr Toss Gascoigne
Executive Director
Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies
PO Box 218
DEAKIN WEST ACT 2600
AUSTRALIA

Phone: +61 2 - 6257 2891 (work); +61 2 - 6249 7400 (home)
Fax: +61 2 - 6257 2897
Mobile: 0408 704 442
Email: fasts at anu.edu.au (Toss Gascoigne)
Web address: http://www.FASTS.org
FASTS' ABN: ABN 71 626 822 845
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.anu.edu.au/mailman/private/aqualist/attachments/20030514/2774910e/attachment.htm