Ewen Jones (Herbert, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science. Will the minister update the House on Australia's achievements in science and technology, particularly with respect to the Prime Minister's science and innovation prizes awarded last night?

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Herbert for his question. He is very fortunate to represent James Cook University in Townsville, one of the finest universities in the country, arguably the best marine sciences university in the tropics in the world and a world leader in tropical health. They too are making great scientific breakthroughs.

It is very important when there is a great success in Australian science and innovation that we mark it and we note it. Last night, the Prime Minister's science and innovation awards were awarded here in Parliament House in the Great Hall. I was fortunate to be able to attend with the Prime Minister. I will not say 'surprisingly', but it was a first science event that I have been at with the huge number of people where there was a standing ovation for the Prime Minister after his speech. I think it speaks volumes about the support for our innovation agenda in the science community and the opportunity to grow the new economy in Australia to match agriculture and mining as one of the staples of our economy in jobs and growth.

There were new Australians awarded science prizes and innovation prizes, joining the long list of Australians who have made great discoveries in research and science. The PM's prize for science, worth $250,000, was won by Professor Graham Farquhar from the ANU, who lives in the member for Eden-Monaro's electorate. He has successfully modelled photosynthesis to create new water efficient wheat varieties.

The inaugural prize for innovation this year was won by Professor Graeme Jameson, with whom many people would be familiar, including the member for Newcastle, in whose electorate he lives. He works from the University of Newcastle. He has created something called the Jameson cell, technologies that use trillions of bubbles to capture and use coal dust that would otherwise be wasted. It is estimated that he has saved the Australian economy $36 billion because of the Jameson cell over the last few years. It has actually—

Ms Plibersek interjecting—

The deputy leader does not think that is an achievement? We think it is a great achievement. What it highlights is that we in Australia are still at the forefront of great research and science developments, whether it is things like the black box recorder; spray-on skin; wi-fi, which was created by CSIRO; penicillin; or cervical cancer vaccines—et cetera. Australians continue to punch well above our weight in international research and scientific breakthroughs.

This will only be advanced by the Prime Minister's innovation and science agenda that we will be announcing later this year, which will have short-term, medium-term and long-term reforms that will turbocharge the innovation economy in Australia. Scientists like Graham Farquhar and Graeme Jameson will have new opportunities to even further impact the economy, jobs and growth. (Time expired)