Investing for growth: coming up from a low base?
9 December 1997
The National Tertiary Education Union has welcomed the increase in funding for research and development contained in the Government’s response to the Mortimer Report, but says that it does not compensate for overall cuts to R & D .
`Commonwealth support for science and innovation is set to fall by over 11% between 1994 and 1998, according to this years Budget statement,’ said NTEU President Dr Carolyn Allport. `Much of this is due to the cut to the tax concession for industry-funded R&D, although it also reflects real declines in Cooperative Research Centre and other targeted funding.’
`We’re pleased to see the Government recognising the value of increasing its investment and encouraging industry R & D, but this is coming from a very low base. The Government must also increase its investment in public sector research if it wished to accelerate growth.
`Innovation is the engine which drives growth, and universities and other public sector research agencies play a vital role - through undertaking basic research, which is the platform for innovation; and through research training and forging links with industry,’ said Dr Allport. `It’s time that the Government recognised and supported that role effectively. The Review of the CRC Programme currently underway will offer one means for them to do so.’
`We welcome the Government’s announcement of another 50 Australian Postgraduate Awards (Industry). However, cuts to university funding are undermining the infrastructure we need for effective research training.’
Dr Allport also expressed concern about the approach to education and training taken in Investing for Growth.
`The Report endorses a voucher approach to funding vocational education and training, and provides tacit support for the model proposed for higher education by the West Committee - which also relies on deregulation, fees and vouchers,’ she said.
`We cannot sustain a skilled and cohesive society unless we retain public investment in education. Deregulation means that the market will shape educational offerings, and that some people will be locked out because of high user-charges. This is not the way forward for Australia. ’
FURTHER COMMENT:
Dr Carolyn Allport Tel. 03 9254 1910
Julie Wells Tel 03 9254 1910