Labor Shadow Cabinet Splits Science and Research from Education and Training. (December 11, 2006)

    As announced yesterday by the newly elected leader of the federal Labor opposition, Kevin Rudd, Steven Smith will handle the shadow portfolios of education and training while Senator Kim Carr has been given responsibility for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.

Perhaps not unexpectedly the media have emphasised the appointment of the "Left powerbroker" Senator Kim Carr" to be Opposition industry spokesman. In fact his other responsibilities have gone quite uncommented. Whether or not this total lack of media interest reflects Mr Rudd's disinterest remains to be seen.

So far just what Labor's policy initiatives will be regarding, higher education and support for science, research (scientific and otherwise) and innovation, as in significant and genuine increases in support, have been proposed in only vague terms.

• For example, will Labor enunciate a five or ten year plan to turn around the decreasing public support for the nation's universities?

• How will it propose getting the private sector to up its support for R&D?

• What incentives will it put in place for a significant increase in support for developing sources of renewable energy?

Just these few questions alone conjure up Mr Rudd, Ms Gillard, Mr Garrett, Mr Smith and Senator Carr having some serious discussions if not debates, and the fact is -- time is short.

Below is an unedited copy of the statement made by the Group of Eight.