Time for Government to take action on research
5 September 2000
The National Tertiary Education Union, representing staff in Australian universities, has called on the Government to take urgent action to redress the downturn in public and private sector research after the release of the report of the Innovation summit implementation Group today.
`The writing is clearly on the wall,’ said NTEU President Carolyn Allport. `This Report, which is the outcome of the Innovation Summit jointly organised by Government and the Business Council of Australia, calls for significant increases to university research funding and infrastructure to build the "knowledge economy". It states that "Australia’s current level of research funding will not be enough to keep us internationally competitive in the future." ‘
`In this respect, it echoes and complements the recommendations of the Chief Scientist, Robin Batterham, whose recently released paper on Australia’s science capability calls for a doubling in funding for the Australian Research Council and substantial increases for research infrastructure and postdoctoral research.’
`Together, these reports send a clear signal to Government. We have to develop a strategy now to reverse the 10% drop in investment in R & D over the past few years, to ensure jobs growth and economic and social well-being. Universities must be at the heart of that strategy,’ she continued.
Dr Allport said that she was particularly pleased to see a recommendation for a review of our national capacity to properly remunerate research staff, but added that such a review should not simply focus on incentives to commercialise.
`The capacity to forge effective links between public sector research and education and industry is an underrated talent in universities, and we must do more to reward and encourage staff who are undertaking such work,’ she said. `However, we mustn’t lose sight of the value of basic research and a high quality educational environment in contributing to innovation and equipping employees in the `Knowledge Economy’ with the skills they need to innovate and explore. Staff doing excellent work in these areas also need to be properly rewarded. ’
`Therefore, this review should also consider the capacity of universities to properly remunerate their staff and attract and retain quality people, especially as the government continues to refuse responsibility for funding salary increases.’