Member Login - Account - Logout

Science and Technology Australia
  • Home
  • About STA
    • Who is STA?
    • Our history
    • Alliances and Partnerships
    • Board
    • Governance
    • Reconciliation Action Plan
    • Work for us
    • Policy Vision
    • Policy Wins
  • News and Publications
    • Latest news
    • Reports and publications
  • Our Programs
    • Science Meets Parliament
    • Parliamentary Friends of Science
    • Superstars of STEM
    • Science Policy Fellows Alumni
    • Super STEM communicator workshop
    • STEM Ambassadors
  • Events
    • Science Meets Parliament
  • Membership
    • Our Members
    • Why be a member?
    • Member Benefits Program
    • Join STA
    • Member How-to Guides
    • Login to member portal
    • Register for member portal
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About STA
    • Who is STA?
    • Our history
    • Alliances and Partnerships
    • Board
    • Governance
    • Reconciliation Action Plan
    • Work for us
    • Policy Vision
    • Policy Wins
  • News and Publications
    • Latest news
    • Reports and publications
  • Our Programs
    • Science Meets Parliament
    • Parliamentary Friends of Science
    • Superstars of STEM
    • Science Policy Fellows Alumni
    • Super STEM communicator workshop
    • STEM Ambassadors
  • Events
    • Science Meets Parliament
  • Membership
    • Our Members
    • Why be a member?
    • Member Benefits Program
    • Join STA
    • Member How-to Guides
    • Login to member portal
    • Register for member portal
  • Contact
19 October 2017

Cuts to key future-building research infrastructure

cables on a supercomputer

A Senate Committee’s recommendation to wind up the Education Investment Fund (EIF) will have tangible negative effects on Australia’s capacity for research.

The peak body for science and technology has labeled the move shortsighted and potentially damaging to research at Australian universities.

Kylie Walker, CEO of Science & Technology Australia (STA), said current funding for research infrastructure under the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) was found to be insufficient by the Australian National Audit Office this year.

She said the uncertainty created by this shortfall was further exacerbated by the ongoing lack of response from the Government to recommendations from the National Infrastructure Roadmap.

“This uncertainty and stop-start approach to funding crucial national research infrastructure hampers the ability of scientists to do work that is vital to the future health and prosperity of Australia,” Ms Walker said.

“Without a clear, long term and strategic plan for how we are going to establish, renew, manage and operate Australia’s critical research infrastructure, Australia will fall behind.”

The recommendation by the Committee is that savings from the EIF are used to fund the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

“Reducing the capacity of Australia’s scientists and technologists is not an effective long-term solution to providing adequate funding for this important and worthwhile Scheme to support some of Australia’s most vulnerable people,” Ms Walker said.

Ms Walker said Australian researchers’ significant contributions to advancing medical and other scientific research has been built partly on access to high quality research infrastructure, such as supercomputers for data processing, sophisticated analytical equipment, and world leading space observation capability.

“We acknowledge that funding priorities for research should be flexible, as the nature of research in scientific and technological fields is ever-changing,” she said.

“However reducing funding for research infrastructure will be the difference between Australia making its mark on the global research stage and our researchers fading in to the background.

“Anything that diminishes our research infrastructure will have negative effects on the competitiveness of our Universities and their international reputation for delivering high quality education.”

Media contact: Dion Pretorius | dion.pretorius@sta.org.au | 0418 281 777

Share
australia education infrastructure long term research science strategy technology university
Previous StoryDecision-making on energy policy must be informed by evidence
Next StoryNational Youth Science Forum working to develop teachers’ ability to inspire

Related Articles

  • Image by Wokandapix from Pixabay.
    Tackling the teacher shortage
  • Join us for the launch of National Science Week 2021
    Australians back science and scientists to lead recovery

ABOUT US

Science & Technology Australia (STA) is Australia’s peak body in science and technology. We represent more than 115,000 scientists and technologists. STA is an influential voice for evidence and expertise in public policy.

Recent news

  • A tax incentive to accelerate diversity in Australia’s workforce
  • How you can support an Indigenous Voice
  • Set a 3% R&D target and double the dollars for discoveries

Our members

  • All Members
  • Agricultural and Food Sciences
  • Aquatic Sciences
  • Biological Sciences
  • Chemical Sciences
  • General Science and Technology
  • Geographical and Geological Sciences
  • Mathematical Sciences
  • Medical and Cognitive Sciences
  • Physical Sciences
  • Plant and Ecological Sciences
  • Technological Sciences

Search for news

Most popular

  • Strong interest from Parliament generates record-breaking intake of STEM Ambassadors
  • Universities Accord an epic fail on research
  • Australians urge business to back science
  • Round 2 of the National Industry PhD Program
  • Photo story: The launch of National Science Week 2023

Sign up to our newsletter

STA PRIVACY POLICY

OTHER STA POLICIES

Science and Technology Australia Limited (ACN 664 679 056 and ABN 71 626 822 845) (STA) is a company limited by guarantee. STA was formerly known as Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies Inc and was authorised under section 82 of the Associations Incorporation Act 1991 (ACT) to transfer its registration under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) to its new company structure on 3 January 2023.

Registered charity logo
Click here for more info
  • HOME
  • News and media releases
  • Become a member
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

Copyright © 2023 Science & Technology Australia. All Rights Reserved