Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader for Science) Share this | Hansard source

Minister, you made a statement that we have inflated rates in this country. I am asking you to confirm that that is not consistent with the fact that Japan has a 150 per cent rate, Malaysia has a 200 per cent rate, Singapore has a 400 per cent rate on the first $400,000 and 150 per cent thereafter, China has a 150 per cent rate, Thailand has a 200 per cent rate and France has a rate of 160 to 180 per cent. I would ask you to confirm that, rather than make bland statements about the inflated rate in this country. Minister, what is the evidence that companies will not simply transfer their R&D to those places, where they can get a better rate of return and a higher level of support from the local government?