FASTS Ten Top Issues for 2004

 

 

1. BRING ON "BACKING AUSTRALIA'S ABILITY II"

BAA was a first step to invest in Australian science. It's time to take the second step and increase our national investment to match the OECD average.


2. RETAIN OUR BRIGHT YOUNG RESEARCH SCIENTISTS

Recent science graduates have plenty of employment opportunities, but postdoctoral researchers have run into a career bottleneck.   The best ideas will flourish if BAA II creates attractive career opportunities in research and industry.


3. PhD SCIENCE GRADUATES TO INVIGORATE INDUSTRY

BAA II should provide matching Government funds to employ new PhD graduates in industry for 2 years, to bring fresh scientific ideas for new methods and new products, and to forge science-based industry career paths.


4. ENCOURAGE INDUSTRY TO BE MORE INVENTIVE

Give increased tax breaks on a sliding scale to reward companies prepared to increase their investment in research, because enterprising and inventive companies grow and provide more jobs.


5. ATTRACT VENTURE CAPITAL INTO NEW INDUSTRIES

Venture capital is in short supply. Make it more attractive to invest in new ideas and new industries that have long term payoffs by lowering capital gains tax for long term investments.


6. NOW WE HAVE THE MAP, AUSTRALIA NEEDS A COMPASS

The National Mapping exercise has shown us where we are. We should create a plan for up to 10 years into the future that sets goals and national directions, including national action plans on limiting climate change and on sustainable energy strategies.


7. HECS BREAKS FOR SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS TEACHERS

Science and maths teachers are in short supply in Australia, but they pay higher HECS fees than other teachers and thus take home less pay.  Bring in HECS breaks for science graduates when they take on teacher employment.


8. COLLABORATION, NOT COMPETING SILOS

Destructive competition between separate research organizations for the funding dollar limits research outcomes.  Provide more collaborative funding incentives to build on the different strengths of universities and Government funded research agencies.


9. QUALITY SCIENCE GRADUATES

Quality science and technology graduates are vital to Australia's economic and environmental future. We need measures to ensure that the new Higher Education Funding arrangements help reverse the current decline in higher education science enrolments.
 

10. WE ARE NOW 20 MILLION AND GROWING

Australia is a fragile continent with an expanding population.  We need to develop a scientifically based population strategy that takes into account limits to growth determined by, for example, water resources and soil salinity.