Katie Allen (Higgins, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Morrison government's Business Research and Innovation Initiative awards grants to innovate solutions for government policy. Currently, the grant round is focused on important environmental challenges, such as turning farm crops into a renewable hydrogen resource. One of the five challenges included in this funding round also sought a solution to better detection of whales at sea. Last year, we witnessed the tragic event in Tasmania when more than 450 whales were beached—subsequently and heartbreakingly dying.

We need to better protect these beautiful and majestic creatures. That is why I was delighted that local Higgins constituent, Mr Joel Kuperholz and his company, Vimana Tech, have been awarded $100,000 through the latest round of the Business Research and Innovation Initiative to do just that. Joel and Vignesh's innovative project uses visual and thermal artificial intelligence cameras for 360-degree whale spotting. They use real-time artificial intelligence that operates inside self-contained units and alerts operators when whales are sighted. Their project will improve our ability to detect marine fauna, including our whales, and will ultimately lead to a sounder and more concerted effort to protect our Australian ocean fauna.

Congratulations Joel, Vignesh and Vimana Tech for undertaking innovative work that will undoubtedly advance Australia's environmental protection efforts. It is another example of the Morrison government backing science and innovation. (Time expired)