Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Hansard source

Well, Senator, thank you for that question. There is a reprioritisation, and I think that what you will find is that, in areas like climate adaptation and in areas of particular focus, like zoonotic disease, landscape pests, pathogen science—all of those questions that go to future resilience, in terms of pandemics, climate adaptation and a range of the areas that are squarely within the national interest and the national science priorities—this is all about strengthening those areas. This is, of course, a difficult process, and these scientists are passionate Australians who are absolutely qualified in their areas of science. And we know that this is very difficult, but it is necessary and important work.