George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

In 2015-16 this government will be investing some $9.7 billion in science, research and innovation. The reason we are spending so much money on science, research and innovation, and also the reason we have put science research and innovation at the very centre of the government's priorities, is that we agree with Catherine Livingstone that innovation is at the heart of the transformation of the Australian economy that we are bringing about. I think most Australians would have a lot more confidence in a man like Malcolm Turnbull to achieve the transformation of the Australian economy than in a preacher of the trade union movement like Bill Shorten.