News & Views item - April 2008

 

 

Prime Minister's Science,  Engineering and Innovation Council, Meet Mr Rudd. (April 24, 2008)

Yesterday Australia's Prime Minister of something under 150 days, Kevin Rudd, met for the first time with the Prime Minister's Science,  Engineering and Innovation Council (PMSEIC).

 

According to the media release from the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Kim Carr:

 

The Prime Minister affirmed the Government's commitment to science and innovation by chairing the first meeting of the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council (PMSEIC) of the Rudd Government.

The Prime Minister said:

"Today I heard from the Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr and Dr Terry Cutler about the progress of the National Innovation System review and the core role this will play in formulating the Government's productivity and social agenda."

"Innovation, science and research are central to advancing our agenda for a globally competitive Australia – they are not a marginal interest but a key force in driving our economy.

"I presented council members with a number of challenges and asked for their best advice on:

"PMSEIC is a critical part of the Government's agenda to bring together the best and brightest from across Australian society, to formulate evidence-based solutions to key problems and drive economic and social change."

Senator Carr made the commitment that: "The National Innovation System review reports in July, and will be a major item for discussion at the next PMSEIC meeting."

 

Whether or not PMSEIC will have any greater influence on governmental policy than it had during the reign of John Howard's Coalition government of eleven years, eight months and twenty-two days remains to be seen. If Mr Rudd takes the time to read the two reports delivered yesterday and takes in their "presentations", it might be a start.

 

 

Below is the media release in full (with the addition of two graphics) from the PMSEIC website.

 

The Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council – Eighteenth Meeting

The Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council (PMSEIC) met at Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday 23 April 2008. The meeting was chaired by the Prime Minister, the Hon Kevin Rudd MP.

The report backs were provided to the Council on follow-up to reports presented at the 22 June 2007 Council meeting. The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Hon Tony Burke MP reported back on the report Climate Change in Australia. The Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator the Hon Kim Carr, reported back on the report Water for Our Cities.

Two PMSEIC working groups presented reports: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health focusing on maternal, fetal and post-natal health and Science and Technology-led Innovation in Services for Australia Industries. The reports and associated presentations can be accessed below. The views expressed are those of members of the working groups and not necessarily of the Australian Government.

The working group presentations were followed by presentations from two early-career researchers - Dr Yin Paradies and Dr Simon Dunstall.  Dr Paradies is a Research Fellow at the Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University and the Centre for Health and Society, University of Melbourne. His research focuses on the impact of racism on Indigenous health as well as anti-racism policy and practice. Dr Dunstall is Leader for Adaptive Supply Networks at the CSIRO Mathematical and Information Sciences. His research focuses on adaptive supply networks particularly in the wine, dairy and steel industries. Their presentations highlighted their respective career paths and fields of research and can be accessed below.

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health focusing on maternal, fetal and post-natal health