STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Ms CHANEY (Curtin) (13:32): Australian science gave the world spray-on skin, the first mechanical grain harvester, the black box flight recorder and the HPV vaccine that's eliminating cervical cancer. That's what Australian R&D looks like when we back it. Right now, at exactly the moment we need that ingenuity most in AI, quantum, advanced manufacturing, health, agriculture, defence, energy resources and technology, Australian R&D investment is in a terrible state.

We spend just 1.69 per cent of GDP on R&D. The OECD average is 2.72 per cent. We rank 40th out of 44 OECD nations for STEM graduates.

Last week I met with the Australian Academy of Science to discuss their Restore Science campaign, which is about this underinvestment. I've also spoken with UWA's deputy vice-chancellor, who told me, 'WA risks losing world-class talent because we can't afford to give researchers job security.' The independent, Ambitious Australia review found that bold reform of our research and innovation system is required to take advantage of strategic technologies and deliver a better standard of living for future generations.

One sensible step announced last month, redesigning research grants, is not a substitute for that reform. I call on this government to commit to implementing the whole Ambitious Australia package, not just the recommendations that are administratively easy. If we back science together, we secure a healthier, safer and more prosperous Australia for generations to come.