Wayne Swan (Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member is absolutely correct to describe the importance of scientific research to our country, to our community and to our long-term economic prosperity. In this vein, the government has acted very swiftly and over a period of time to increase funding to scientific research and innovation. This financial year it is almost $9 billion, an overall increase of 35 per cent since 2007. Also, in terms of health and medical research, that funding has increased substantially since 2007, from $614.5 million in 2006-07 to $760.5 million in 2012-13. Of course, there has also been very substantial investment through the Health and Hospitals Fund and a number of other areas as well.

What that effort does is reflect the importance that the government puts on scientific research. Of course, as we go through producing the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook, we will do that in line with the Charter of Budget Honesty and we will do it in line with all past practice, and I do not intend to pre-empt any decisions of MYEFO.

Adam Bandt (Melbourne, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Deputy Speaker, I referred in my question to a letter from the University of Melbourne. I seek leave to table the letter, from Jim McCluskey, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), setting out the potential job implications in Victoria if NHMRC and ARC grants are not proceeded with.

Leave not granted.

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Deputy Speaker, I ask the Treasurer to table the document from which he was reading.

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Was the Treasurer reading from a document?

Wayne Swan (Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, I was.

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Was it a confidential document?

Wayne Swan (Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes.

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Blair has the call.