Wayne Swan (Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) | Link to this | Hansard source

The member is absolutely correct to describe the importance of scientific research to our country, to our community and to our long-term economic prosperity. In this vein, the government has acted very swiftly and over a period of time to increase funding to scientific research and innovation. This financial year it is almost $9 billion, an overall increase of 35 per cent since 2007. Also, in terms of health and medical research, that funding has increased substantially since 2007, from $614.5 million in 2006-07 to $760.5 million in 2012-13. Of course, there has also been very substantial investment through the Health and Hospitals Fund and a number of other areas as well.

What that effort does is reflect the importance that the government puts on scientific research. Of course, as we go through producing the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook, we will do that in line with the Charter of Budget Honesty and we will do it in line with all past practice, and I do not intend to pre-empt any decisions of MYEFO.

Adam Bandt (Melbourne, Australian Greens) | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Deputy Speaker, I referred in my question to a letter from the University of Melbourne. I seek leave to table the letter, from Jim McCluskey, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), setting out the potential job implications in Victoria if NHMRC and ARC grants are not proceeded with.

Leave not granted.

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Deputy Speaker, I ask the Treasurer to table the document from which he was reading.

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

Was the Treasurer reading from a document?

Wayne Swan (Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, I was.

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

Was it a confidential document?

Wayne Swan (Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes.

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Blair has the call.