Brett Mason (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Universities and Research) Share this | Hansard source

The reason I ask is that presently the government is considering, in the context of funding research in this country, looking at the role of and trying to divine how to measure the impact of research on our country, both social and economic. Let me just concede that it is a very difficult measure. My question really related to whether this review will assist and whether the impact is being taken into account in the context of this review. I think the government is right to start assessing impact because without it—how do I put this gently?—some taxpayers find it difficult to fund research when they believe that academics are simply writing for each other. They would prefer something with a social and economic impact.