Karen Andrews (McPherson, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Science) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Dawson for his question. As we have limited time left in this consideration in detail, I will be very brief, but there are a couple of things I would like to put on the record in responding to the member for Dawson's question.

It is very important to note that we are a government that is committed to world-class research. The Australian Institute of Marine Science is certainly a key agency for this government. We are investing around $9 billion in science, research and innovation across all of the government in this year alone. That is a significant investment we are making.

Briefly, in the time available, I would like to comment that on Sunday AIMS had its open day in Townsville. Specifically, in relation to the member for Dawson, there were a number of people who spoke to me at that open day and who commented very favourably on the very fine work you are doing in the electorate. AIMS will benefit from the government's investment of $169 million over the forward estimates, with funding increasing year on year. That is a very good outcome for the Australian Institute of Marine Science.

There are probably two parts to the work that AIMS does that we need to note. Firstly, it is world-class research work that it is doing. It has some fantastic facilities, based just outside Townsville but also around Australia. It certainly has the SeaSim—the sea simulator—where it is conducting world-leading research on that facility and particularly in marine science. But it is also very much engaged in ensuring that it is providing support to our future scientists. It is supporting the growth of STEM skills in the North Queensland region and particularly in Western Australia. We know that is an area we need to focus on, particularly into the future. Seventy-five per cent of the jobs of the future will require skills in STEM. The Australian Institute of Marine Science is doing a particularly good job in making sure that it is working with the community—as we have seen at the open day—making sure that the future scientists have the opportunity to visit the facility and to engage with the outstanding research scientists there just outside Townsville.

Proposed expenditure agreed to.

Immigration and Border Protection Portfolio

Proposed expenditure, $4,609,577,000

See this speech in context