Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question without notice is the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Cormann. Minister, this is the 19th annual Science meets Parliament event. How will the Prime Minister explain to the Australian science community his government's appalling performance in advancing science and innovation—a record that includes cutting $3 billion in the 2014 budget? Does the Prime Minister agree with the former Minister for Industry and Science that his government copped a shellacking over innovation in the last election?

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The answer to the last question is no. The Australian government recognises the fundamental place of science in Australia's economy and social wellbeing. That's why it remains central to our jobs and innovation agenda. And that is also why the Prime Minister has appointed an outstanding minister for jobs and innovation in Senator Cash. The national science statement released in—

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Order on both sides of the chamber.

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government continues to make smart, strategic investments in science, research and innovation which will pay off in the long term. In the 2017-18 budget, we are investing $10.3 billion in research and development, which includes a record $3.6 billion for university research, $794 million for the CSIRO, $3.1 billion in support for business research through the research and development tax incentive, $473 million for defence, science and technology, $758 million through the Australian Research Council and $841 million through the National Health and Medical Research Council.

Under the National Innovation and Science Agenda, the government has also made a number of significant longer-term investments, including $2.3 billion over 10 years to support critical research infrastructure. The government is also investing $119 million over 10 years to become a strategic partner in the European Southern Observatory. This will provide Australian researchers international collaboration opportunities and access to the world's best infrastructure in astronomy. Through our strong support for science, we will boost our nation's capacity to innovate. To those around Australia interested in science innovation, the best advice I can give them is: don't listen to Senator Carr.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Carr, a supplementary question.

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

() (): Since the election, Minister, of your government, the number of people employed in government science agencies has fallen by more than 1,300 people. That includes a loss of 1,200 jobs at the CSIRO, 133 at Geoscience Australia and 50 at the Bureau of Meteorology. When will the Prime Minister stop his craven capitulation to the anti-science wing of the Liberal Party and reinvest in the Australian science agencies? (Time expired)

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The first point I would make to Senator Carr is that the measure of a government's commitment to science innovation is not measured by the number of public servants in a particular Public Service department. Let me tell you: if Senator Carr were really committed to science and innovation, what he would do is support our business tax cuts, reducing the business tax rate to 25 per cent, because the additional private investment it would generate would drive innovation across the Australian economy.

Nine out of 10 Australian workers work in a private sector business, of course, competing with the world. You should look at the spirit of enterprise and innovation across the private sector. The private sector is something far removed from Senator Carr's awareness. But do you know what? The private sector in Australia actually employs nine out of 10 working Australians. (Time expired)

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Carr, a final supplementary question.

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask the minister: when the Prime Minister meets a delegation of scientists attending parliament, how will he explain his appalling oversight in refusing to appoint a cabinet-level minister for science?

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The cabinet-level minister for science is Senator Cash.

Senator Kim Carr interjecting—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Carr, you've been particularly active this question time.