Those Major National Research Facilities. (December 5, 2012)

As if to reinforce the take home message of the Group of Eight's Backgrounder 31 -- Higher education financing -- the higher education's research sector has gained the interest of  The Australian's Julie Hare who reports in today's edition that it "has learned that critical research infrastructure is on the verge of being shut down or run at sub-capacity because of dwindling resources".

Note the Go8's figure 7 (below) from its most recent "Backgrounder".

Not a good sign if we are to keep up with our cohort nations let alone move into the planet's top ten for research and innovation as is Prime Minister Gillard's stated goal.

Ms Hare obviously did a phone around to get the opinions of the cognoscenti:

Belinda Robinson, chief executive of peak group Universities Australia: [W]e are seeing very significant investments in research being eroded as the government searches for a surplus.

Bob Graham, executive director of the Victor Chang Medical Institute in Sydney: The government has been keen to put a lot of money into building work but what they haven't done is increase funding to match the increased recurring costs. They have to address this issue.

Les Field, deputy vice-chancellor (research) at the University of NSW: Major research infrastructure is essential to underpin Australia's research effort and the types of infrastructure we are talking about are major investments over decades. We need to be in this for the long haul and plan accordingly.

Terry Cutler, author of the government report into the innovation sector in 2009: It's symptomatic of completely dysfunctional government engagement with the research sector. The fundamental problem here is lack of a coherent policy framework. There's a lack of co-ordination and governance. It's heading towards a crisis point if staffing and other costs such as upgrades are continually funded on a fixed-term basis.

Suzanne Cory, president of the Academy of Science: The facts are clear. This issue is of vital importance for research in this country, and went on to note that Australia's international competitiveness was threatened if key facilities were closed or working at below optimum capacity.

Aye, but is it a matter seen to be of significance when it comes to retaining government; especially when you've been spooked into pledging a fiscal surplus no matter how small and how inconsequential.