House Standing Committee Releases Interim Report on Research Training. (October 28, 2008)

The Federal House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Innovation yesterday released an interim report consisting of 24 recommendations with regard to Research Training in Australian Universities.

It took the step of releasing an interim report early so that its key recommendations might be considered during the formulation of the 2009-10 budget.

While there is bipartisan agreement as regards twelve of the 24 listed recommendations (1,2,3,5,7,12,12,14,15,16 and 21), that is not the case for the remaining twelve (4,6,8,9,10,11,17,18,19,20,22,23 and 24) which opposition committee members feel "have been included in the interim report in haste and deserve a more thorough analysis. It is for these reasons that Opposition members reserve their right to further review these recommendations and do not believe that with such limited discussion and lack of scrutiny by the committee that they should be included in this 'interim' report".

 Professor Doug McEachern, Chair of the Go8 Deputy Vice-Chancellors Research Committee commenting for the Group of Eight said:

It's clear from the report's 24 recommendations that after six months of site visits and consideration of written and verbal evidence, the committee is convinced that there is a strong case for reform and additional investment in research and research training in Australia...  [it] focuses on the reforms and investment required to ensure that Australia's system of research training is capable of underpinning an innovative society and economy. The Go8 notes that all recommendations with budget implications have bi-partisan support, and that both Government and Opposition members have recognised that high quality research training is vital to Australia's future.

However, Professor McEachern noted that: "There are some recommendations in the report that will need to be thought through carefully, and could have unintended consequences if implemented as proposed," and added that the Go8 will provide... feedback on the detail".

With the government's preoccupation with the international financial turmoil and its effect on Australia's economy, the spending measures deemed essential -- including the possible introduction of a deficit budget to limit a downturn in the real economy -- is liable to have a profound effect on resourcing research and development in all its aspects.

While understandable, it is also regrettable in that it is shortsighted and will be deleterious to the commonweal in the longer term.