Tim Ayres does not want to “disrespect” Robyn Denholm and colleagues working on the government’s Strategic Examination of Research and Development by pre-empting their findings.
So, at RMIT last week the Industry and Science Minister only mentioned “core principles … already emerging from the process.” But he did claim R&D for Labor.
Government’s role
“It is not just about investing in research capabilities and the commercialisation of discoveries.
"It’s about providing the kind of leadership that helps to align the effort and ingenuity that’s already abundant in our research system.”
Minister Ayres did mention the system is fragmented, which is hard to argue; what with 160 Commonwealth programs, across 14 portfolios.
Aligning R&D to the Gov’s urgent priorities
They are in the Future Made in Australia plan, “the biggest pro-manufacturing agenda in Australia’s history.”
“Using industry policy to help build a more cohesive, resilient Australian society that’s confident in the face of external challenges. This is an economic challenge. A social challenge. A strategic challenge. And a science and technology challenge as well."
That’s the Government’s priorities, right?
“Getting our innovation system right involves Australians and Australian institutions working together, with the Government providing strategic leadership,” Mr Ayres said.
And “innovation” is apparently a Labor thing
Mr Ayres reminded his audience of the Coalition’s “policy inconsistency and mixed messaging.” “In those years, innovation was a prolific buzzword one day, maligned as a misguided ‘frolic’ the next.”
Perhaps he was referring to Prime Minister Turnbull’s “innovation nation” tech agenda, which ended with his near-election loss in 2016. But that won’t happen now.
“There’s no innovation without working people. There’s no long-term technological improvement or productivity uplift without the buy-in of ordinary Australians who, quite often, do the actual innovating,” Mr Ayres said.