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

I thank Senator Pratt for her question. I inform the Senate that today I announce that the government will invest more than $143 million to support 200 talented researchers through the Future Fellowships scheme. The new fellows and their universities will receive the funds they need to undertake research of the utmost importance to our nation. Their projects include new technology to tackle climate change, new initiatives to improve Indigenous health and new ways of coping with the effects of drought. This is a testament to the value of our investments in the Australian research sector.

The Labor government established the Future Fellowships scheme to remedy the neglect of the former Howard government—neglect Senator Mason has so aptly identified in this morning’s Australian. It was a bleak time—Senator Mason, I think you would agree—under John Howard for Australians who were undertaking research careers because, once they completed their PhDs and their postdoctorates, they had nowhere to go. I think you will acknowledge also, Senator Mason, that the reforms that the Labor government introduced were overdue.

We have allocated $844 million over five years to support 1,000 leading mid-career researchers through the Future Fellowships scheme. We understand that a world-class research sector needs a world-class research workforce to sustain it. A world-class research sector is vital for boosting our productivity, for protecting our environment and for improving the lives of all Australians. That is why we are fostering the next generation of researchers, that is why we are doubling the number of Australian postgraduate awards, that is why we are increasing stipends by 10 per cent and that is why we have created the Super Science Fellowships for early career researchers. (Time expired)