Science
Matthew L
James
Science, Technology, Environment and Resources
Section
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial
Research Organisation (CSIRO) received the bulk of the funding for
science initiatives, with a focus on energy, nanotechnology and astronomy.
The Australian Nuclear Science and
Technology Organisation (ANSTO) received substantial funding for new
measures. Energy market reforms, energy efficiency and development support
initiatives were modestly funded.
CSIRO
CSIRO will receive $2.8 billion over four years as already provided for
in forward estimates. The new amounts are $664.5, $681.5, $703.2 and $730.1
million over four successive years. A new quadrennial funding agreement
will replace the previous triennial funding agreement.
The CSIRO National Research Flagships
program received a $174 million boost to establish three new flagships
for climate adaptation, niche manufacturing and minerals energy development
as well as continuing energy research.
The program received $43.6 million over four years for a new National
Research Flagship on Climate Adaptation to improve climate variability
predictions.
The program also received $60 million to extend the existing Energy
Transformed Flagship, to focus on transport technologies for a sustainable
future, specifically to research bio-fuels, the storage of high density
natural gas and conversion of coal to liquids, and gas to liquids.
A new Minerals
Down Under Flagship for minerals and energy development will investigate
new mining and processing technologies. The Flagship will receive $34.6
million from the Australian Government over four years, to enable CSIRO
to work with Geoscience Australia and industry to target discovery through
the development of advanced exploration systems, drilling and development
of future mining systems, processing technologies for resources, and development
of solutions for sustainable processing.
The Australian Government is establishing a new National
Research Flagship for Niche Manufacturing within CSIRO, with a funding
commitment of $36.2 million, with the aim of adding further value to existing
high value-add segments of the manufacturing industry and to create a
new wave of niche industries based on nanotechnology.
A Rejuvinating Manufacturing Platform will be established within the
Flagship to act as an interface for small and medium enterprises and
other manufacturers….The Flagship will also support the roll-out of
the Australian Government’s National Nanotechnology Strategy.
The Flagship program, especially given its wide ambit and commercial
focus, has attracted some criticism. In response to the Budget, the CSIRO Staff
Association claimed that:
The Government has not come to terms with the importance of wide-ranging
scientific R&D to meet the very big challenges of energy, climate
change and water. [It] will leave many critical areas of research, such
as forestry and mainstream manufacturing still out in the cold. We expect
it will hit agricultural research the hardest.
A $21.5 million National
Nanotechnology Strategy was announced on 1 May 2007, by the Prime
Minister John Howard and
the Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane,
as part of the Industry Statement:
Australia is already a world
leader in nanotechnology. CSIRO has undertaken over 40 separate nanotechnology
projects and over 60 nano-focused companies have emerged in the last
five years. CSIRO's new $36.2 million Niche Manufacturing Flagship will
focus on developing nanotechnology applications. The National Strategy
will draw together industry, researchers, the community and government
to:
- Establish a nano-particle measuring capability at the National Measurement
Institute;
- Address regulations and standards; and
- Provide balanced advice to the community on nanotechnology.
The funding commitment is $21.5 million over four years to 30 June 2011.
Inquiries for the National Nanotechnology Strategy are initially through
Biotechnology Australia in the
Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources.
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO)
ANSTO will receive $663 million
over the next four years. Funding for new measures amounted to $61 million
over the next four years; $22 million ($5.5 million per annum over 4 years)
to support operations of the new OPAL research reactor; $35 million for
the automation of ANSTO Radiopharmaceuticals and Industrials production
($30 million in 2007-08 and $5 million in 2008-09, the latter funded internally);
and $4 million for radioactive waste compaction equipment to reduce the
volume of low-level waste stored at ANSTO.
Funding to maximise OPAL’s potential and to provide state-of-the-art
radiopharmaceutical production processes is consistent with ANSTO’s critical
role in the production of Australia’s
radiopharmaceutical supply for medical applications in Australia
and its near neighbours.
Co-operative Research Centres (CRCs)
Funding for the CRCs program was increased from $189.4 million (2006-07)
to $212.3 million (2007-08).
The Cooperative Research Centre Association has
voiced its disappointment claiming that the forward budget commitment
for the CRC program has remained unchanged, despite their hopes that there
would have been an increase in funding. Under the CRC rolling program
arrangement, existing CRCs may rebid late in their 7-year life in competition
with new CRC proposals, for the government component (averaging around
22% of a CRC’s total funding) of the next seven year funding. Failure
in this bid process will mean an existing CRC will be wound up.
2008 is a key year for this highly successful Programme. We have 22
existing CRCs eligible to apply for a rebid, plus a yet unknown number
of new prospects. The simple fact is that with no change to the Programme’s
budget, we could see as many as 15 CRCs being forced to wind up their
operations. [1]
Synchrotron
The Budget provided a $50 million grant in support of the Australian
Synchrotron, in addition to $14 million provided through the National
Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy towards the cost of constructing
the beam-lines.
The Synchrotron [2] is located adjacent to
Monash University at Clayton, Victoria and is expected to open in 2007.
The device allows the structure of materials to be examined at molecular
and atomic scale, and compositions determined quickly. It has applications
in medical research through its finely detailed x-ray capabilities and
it can be used in micro-manufacturing.
The Australian Square Kilometre
Array Pathfinder radio-telescope – design, development and building;
is to receive $37.2 million over the four year period along with a $27.5
million related capital expenditure by CSIRO over three years to purchase
plant and equipment. The telescope will enhance Australia’s
reputation in astronomy as a contender to host the $1.8 billion international
square kilometre array project to build the world’s largest radio telescope
in the outback of Western Australia. South Africa
remains the other contender in the global bid.
There was no funding to rejuvenate the former National Space Program,
despite the call by the Space Policy Advisory Group “Space:
A Priority for Australia” 2006 policy submission, seeking a framework
for national program action, security and space data access. Meanwhile,
the first Australian
Decadal Plan for Space Science is in preparation.
Energy Market Reforms and Development Support
$12.7 million over 6 years has been appropriated for energy market reform
initiatives to be managed by the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources.
Energy efficiency in the gas and electricity markets, as well as overall
efficiency across industry, government and the community, oil and gas
security in the context of fuel emergency preparedness, and geothermal
energy and hydrogen technology initiatives will be developed to improve
the competitiveness and reliability of the Australian energy sector. The
initiatives will principally have a support role but include attention
to the roll-out of smart meters [3] , the development
of a national gas market, gas and electricity retailing regulation, and
the creation of a Geothermal Industry Development Framework for the geothermal
energy industry [4] and a Hydrogen Technology Roadmap [5] .
Any substantial developments of the exciting energy technologies, geothermal
and hydrogen, have great potential to transform the Australian energy
supply profile. Geothermal energy is a near-term prospect. This energy
source has the potential to provide greenhouse gas emission-free base
load electric power generation. Currently listed-company Geodynamics Ltd
geothermal project near Innamincka (SA) is at advanced feasibility stage
and electric power generation could commence as early as 2009 or 2010.
The hydrogen technology program aims to articulate what contribution hydrogen
technology may make to Australia’s
energy needs.
Sustainable, efficient and secure energy supply and greenhouse gas reduction
imperatives clearly deserve serious attention. The Australian regards
the commitment in this Budget to energy market reform as “modest”. [6]
Health and Food
Louise Emmett
Science, Technology, Environment and Resources
Section
Medical Research Institutes will share around $500 million to fund development
and expansion projects addressing innovative drugs and new treatments
for conditions such as cerebral palsy, cancer, heart disease and mental
health problems. It is expected that other initiatives in the Budget such
as immunization programmes, Type 2 diabetes tests, mosquito eradication
programmes and provision for assistance with the psychological impact
of the drought will alleviate community needs in the Health Science area.
Highly respected medical authorities including Professor
Ian Frazer and the AMA
have argued that more attention needed to be given to medical issues.
Professor Ian Frazer
lobbied for $100 million investment is a new centre to test potential
new products through to the point of commercialisation. As well, the AMA
identified Indigenous health and rural health measures as under-resourced
in the Budget. The AMA had called for a minimum of $460 million recurrent
new Indigenous health funding each year.
Through Department
of Health and Ageing programs, the Government will provide $486 million
in 2006-07 to fund development and expansion projects by medical research
facilities. Funding will go to 15 facilities (NSW 4; Qld 2; SA 1; Vic
4;WA 2; NT 2) and will focus on cancer, brain, heart research and infectious
diseases.
Immunisation
The Department of Health and Ageing will administer the following funds
for immunisation programmes under the banner Protecting
your Health:
- National Human Papillomavirus (HPV) (a common virus in the population)
$103.5 million over 5 years to vaccinate 2-13 year old girls and catch-up
programmes for 13-18 year old girls and 18-26 year old women.
- Q fever is a bacterial condition affecting abattoir workers and others
who have close contact with livestock and their products. The Government
has allocated $16.6 million for immunisation over 5 years.
- Rotavirus gastroenteritis vaccine $124.4 million over 5 years targeting
the 250,000 babies born in Australia
each year. Vaccination of babies aged 2-6 months will reduce the risk
of developing severe rotavirus gastroenteritis by over 86 per cent.
Type 2 diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases among people
aged 40 years and over, in particular among those with excess weight and
a family history of diabetes. However, the number of children and people
under 40 years of age being diagnosed with the condition is increasing.
Type 2 diabetes accounts for 85–90 per cent of people with diabetes.
Through the Department of Health and Ageing the Commonwealth Government
will fund up to $103.5 million over 4 years as its contribution to a cost-shared
initiative with state and territory governments focusing on 40–49 year
olds to take a “tick” test; funding includes $1.0 million over two years
to develop the “tick” test – a national risk assessment tool.
Following recent incursions of species of mosquito capable of spreading
dengue fever, the Government will provide $2.7 million over three years
to help Queensland and Northern Territory governments fund mosquito eradication
programmes in the Torres Strait and Groote Eylandt.
Training is required for workforce and community leaders to be able to
recognise and respond to the early warnings of emotional distress. Health
practitioners and other drought relief workers need assistance and awareness
of self-help and other services needs to be raised.
Some $10.1 million will be provided through the Department of Health
and Ageing over two years from 2007–08 to individual Divisions of General
Practice to support mental health professionals and community leaders
respond to the psychological impact of drought. $20.6 million also will
be provided over four years building on COAG’s Mental Health – mental
health services in rural and remote areas (2006–07 Budget).
Food Standards Australia New Zealand
(FSANZ) develops food standards and joint codes of practice with industry
covering the content and labelling of food sold in Australia and New Zealand.
FSANZ also undertakes national coordination of food surveillance and food
recall systems, providing food handling advice to consumers and conducting
research.
The Government will provide $12.7 million over four years to increase
FSANZ resources, to reduce the time taken to develop new food standards
and address the demands and concerns of industry and consumers regarding
food safety.
Endnotes
[1] . Cooperative Research Centre Association Budget night media
release, 8 May 2007 Budget a little disappointing, but there’s
still hope!
[2] .
A synchrotron is a large machine (about the size of a football field)
that accelerates electrons to almost the speed of light. As the electrons
are deflected through magnetic fields they create extremely bright light.
The light is channelled down beamlines to experimental workstations where
it is used for research. It is recognised internationally that research
using synchrotron light is a mainstream activity that provides essential
information in the materials and chemical sciences, the life sciences
and molecular and environmental science.
[3] .
A “smart meter” is an advanced meter that identifies electricity consumption
in more detail than a conventional basic domestic meter. While a “basic
meter” accumulates the measurement of electricity consumption for the
period between reads, a “smart meter” will, typically, provide consumption
data in half-hourly intervals. The “smart meter” (also referred to as
an interval meter) may also deliver the readings over a communications
network to a remote location for monitoring and billing purposes.
[4] .
Geothermal energy is a renewable energy. Hot fractured rock (HFR) geothermal
energy is produced using heat extracted from buried hot granites by circulating
waters through an engineered, artificial reservoir or underground heat
exchanger. These hot granites represent a massive source of renewable
energy, free from CO2 emissions. The development of HFR geothermal energy
relies on existing technologies. HFR geothermal projects are currently
underway in France, Switzerland,
Germany, California, and Japan.
Australia has a recognised potential
for the development of HFR geothermal energy.
[5] .
Hydrogen is an energy storage medium, not a primary energy source, but
is an environmentally cleaner source of energy to end-users, particularly
in transportation applications (vehicles, aircraft) without release of
pollutants (such as greenhouse gasses) at the point of end use. Commercial
production is still a long way off.
[6] .
Warren, M 2007 Incentives risk driving
solar-cell costs through roof, The Australian, 9 May 2007, p. 8.
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