Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Hansard source

This may not interest you, since you have so little interest in science, but the government is determined, irrespective of your ignorance, to extend and strengthen Australia’s scientific capabilities. We have introduced HECS remissions and refunds to get more undergraduates studying maths and science; we have doubled the number of Australian postgraduate awards to support young researchers in science and other disciplines, and it is also our ambition to increase the value of these awards over time; and we have created the Australian Laureate Fellowships for senior researchers and 1,000 Future Fellowships for researchers in mid-career. In 2008 we allocated an extra $1.58 billion for teaching and research facilities in Australian universities to support the study of science and other disciplines. We also want every Australian child to develop an interest in science and basic scientific skills. Our Nation Building and Jobs Plan includes $1 billion to build up to 500 science laboratories or language learning centres in secondary schools. Just last week we announced a new project to improve science education for Indigenous students in Far North Queensland. In doing these things we understand just how important science is for Australia’s future.