Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Science and Research) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Polley for her very good question and her ongoing interest in the world-class science research that Australia conducts under this government. Last Friday I joined the Prime Minister, the Chief Scientist and Minister Emerson at the Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and Innovation Council, where we launched the government's strategic research priorities. These strategic research priorities took the place of the national research priorities. This change was foreshadowed in the Australian government's National Research Investment Plan released in November 2012.

There are 15 priorities and they are designed to drive Australia's research investment. The priorities align with the societal changes covering issues of immediate and critical importance to Australia. These challenges addressed the priorities of living in a changed environment, promoting population health and wellbeing, managing food and water assets, securing Australia's place in a changing world and, most importantly, lifting productivity and economic growth.

Senator Abetz interjecting—

I am glad you agree, Senator Abetz. Universities Australia chief executive, Belinda Robertson, welcomed these priorities. She said: 'The priorities provide a focus to support prudent research investment decision making and will help to ensure that the return to the nation on this investment is maximised.' These priorities— (Time expired)