Chief scientist's report good news for universities
1 July 1997
The National Tertiary Education Union, representing academic and general staff in Australian universities, has welcomed the Report of the Chief Scientist, Professor John Stocker, on arrangements for public sector science and technology.
Professor Stocker’s Inquiry arose from the Report of the National Commission of Audit, which suggested that there may be significant gaps and overlaps in the funding and management of science, and foreshadowed the need for rationalisation of resources and the targeting of funding to national priorities.
`This inquiry had the capacity to shake up university research, not just by rationalising policy and funding in the science area, but also because of the implications of `priority setting\' for fields of research in other disciplines,’ said NTEU President Dr Carolyn Allport. `We’re relieved to see that the Chief Scientist has recommended an outcome-focused approach to determining national priorities, and argued against tying priorities to specific discipline areas.’
Dr Allport said that NTEU’s submission to the Review had argued for maintaining a diversity of funding sources for science and technology, on the basis that this contributed to a wide range of useful outcomes. This point was supported in the Report.
`We’re pleased to see Professor Stocker refuting the `downsizing’ arguments of the National Commission of Audit, and arguing for maintaining a pluralistic science and technology research system,’ she said.
Dr Allport welcomed the Review’s recommendations for developing a more coherent framework for policy development and implementation, and for making science the responsibility of a Cabinet committee.
`Commonwealth support for science and innovation aggregated across all portfolios is set to fall by nearly 11% between 1996 and 1998,’ said Dr Allport. `Government must give science a higher reverse this bleak scenario.’
The Report stops short of making recommendations immediately relevant to higher education - referring to the brief of the West Committee - but acknowledges the role of the sector as the `principal custodian of the status and health of basic research’ and highlights the increasing gap between funding for university research infrastructure and the scale of research activity undertaken. The Report also echoes a specific recommendation made by NTEU in its submission to the West Review: that is, that support of `public good’ Cooperative Research Centres be reflected in the CRC Program guidelines.’
Further comment contact Julie Wells (NTEU National) on 03 9254 1910 (bh) or jwells@nteu.org.au