Science and Maths to Receive $54m Boost Over Four Years -- ABS Will lose $255m Next Year. (May 9, 2012)

Below are two excerpts from today's broadsheets that make you wonder first about the political party currently in power for the perpetration and those who aspire to replace them that show no interest in even noting it. The emphases shown are TFW's.

From The Australian (May 9, 2012) Julie Hare, Higher education editor:

Science and maths also received a boost of $54m over four years to help increase participation in schools and universities. Chief Scientist Ian Chubb's report to Julia Gillard was released at exactly same time as the budget. Divvied up, the amount included

$20m for outreach programs,

$11m for improving university teaching of maths and science,

$6.5m for scientists in schools programs and an extra

$5m for Nobel Physics Prize laureate Brian Schmidt's pet science education project, Primary Connections.

From The Sydney Morning Herald (May 8, 2012) Emma Macdonald, Peter Jean:

The ABS will lose $255 million in operating expenses next year from a total budget of $640 million. While a sizeable proportion of last year’s budget allocation was to support the 2011 national census and the drop in funding is not unexpected, efficiencies are expected to be made and a further $23 million cut is slated for 2013-14. The ABS is also earmarked for 680 job losses although the Budget papers state this number is “predominantly” due to the end of contract staff who worked on the census.

For a bit of history: On 11 July 2002 Australia's Chief Statistician called a meeting of statistical scientists from industry, government and universities, motivated by his own organisation's inability to find the mathematical statisticians it needs to analyse Commonwealth Government data on Australia's industry, society and community. Eli Lilly's representative at the meeting reported that his company is experiencing the same problem, and that as a result its US office may shelve the company's plans for growth in Australia. The same problems afflict industry and government across the country.

Has the situation over the past 10-years changed so radically that Australia can really afford to have such a slashing of personal affecting the ABS.

To an outsider it is an extraordinary approach to the wheedling power.

Oh yes,  The CSIRO stands to lose $25 million in operating expenses next year and 116 staff.