Michelle Ananda-Rajah (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Science is the solution. My question is to the Minister for Science, Senator Ayres. The Albanese Labor government is backing a modern research and development system to meet Australia's big collective challenges. To this end, today the government announced that it will enter formal negotiations to associate with the Horizon Europe research scheme. What is Horizon Europe, and what benefits will this association provide for Australian scientists and researchers?

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

In addition to having the President of the European Commission visit us in parliament today, it is indeed Science Meets Parliament week, when our leading scientists come to parliament to connect with politicians. It is very fitting and I'm very proud that today we announced that we would enter treaty-level talks to associate with Horizon Europe. That is the largest pool of research and innovation funds in the world. It has a current budget of A$155 billion. That means that Australian scientists, universities and research organisations can mount joint research efforts and apply for grants that are very substantial, in partner, trusted, economies where we have much in common in security terms, in energy terms and in technology terms, for agricultural purposes, artificial intelligence, quantum science—all of these areas where Australia has an excellent reputation in our universities and in our science institutions. This gives us access. This gives our researchers access to more funds, to more collaboration and to more colleagues to be able to advance Australia's interests. Our universities and our research institutions do remarkable things, whether it's in agriculture, mining, defence or food security. In all of these areas, it's Australian researchers and Australian scientists. This is just one more way the Australian government is backing that effort and giving them an opportunity to collaborate, as I said, with trusted partners in a way that advances the national interest.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ananda-Rajah, first supplementary?

Michelle Ananda-Rajah (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Australia's science and research system is critical to delivering a future made in Australia. What contribution do Australian scientists and researchers make to national resilience and productivity growth?

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

This is part of a series of announcements that were made today—the fine work that Senator Farrell has led in trade diversification with our partners in the European Union, the announcements in relation to defence partnerships that Senator Wong was answering questions about and this, in terms of our research and development capacity. These are all resilience measures that are about diversifying our economy, strengthening our research and science capability and strengthening our national security.

Recently I released the Ambitious Australia: strategic examination of research and development report, which was led by Robyn Denholm and a series of other notable Australians. That makes it clear what the private and public challenge is for Australia's research and development sector and what it is that we need to do to meet the big collective challenges that Australia faces.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ananda-Rajah, second supplementary?

Michelle Ananda-Rajah (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Scientists and researchers work hard for the benefit of all Australians. How does the Albanese Labor government recognise the contribution Australian scientists make? Why has the government chosen this approach?

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

One of the observation that that report that I just referred to makes is that there is $15 billion being spent across the Australian system in 160 research and development programs across government this financial year. We need to make sure that that effort is directed in the national interest. We need to make sure that it aligns with our national science priorities. We support science. We unequivocally support our research institutions and our scientists.

There are alternative approaches that are all about misrepresenting and diminishing science, scientists and empirical knowledge. I saw that last year Senator Canavan had a breaking Twitter update where he posted a screenshot that claimed that the CSIRO had shown coal to be the cheapest form of power. The only issue was that he'd cropped the CSIRO graphic to dishonestly convey— (Time expired)