Jess Walsh (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Australia is home to world-leading scientists, innovators, researchers and educators—people who work tirelessly to achieve groundbreaking innovation and who inspire the next generation. Among these exceptional people is Professor Matthew Bailes. He is this year's Prime Minister's Prize for Science winner, and he's from Swinburne University in my home state of Victoria.

Victoria holds a proud legacy as a leader in science and technology. From the bionic ear to the world's first IVF pregnancy, we are at the forefront of cutting-edge research. Soon, Victoria will become home to the only mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility in the Southern Hemisphere. We are committed to supporting scientists and their teams to keep doing this vital work here in Australia. Professor Bailes has been a game changer in his field. He and his collaborators discovered the majority of the first 25 fast radio bursts and they now research gravitational waves from huge distant objects in the universe.

His work is testament to the talent in Victoria, a state that consistently drives excellence in education, research and science. It doesn't take a scientist to see just how important this work is. Having innovative minds on our shores is crucial to our future. It will unlock the secrets of our universe, strengthen our economy and improve our lives. Our government believes in science. We are proud to support it. We are backing our scientists, our researchers and our educators.

Congratulations again to Professor Bailes and, indeed, to all the winners of the Prime Minister's Prizes for Science awarded last night.