Sue Boyce (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Human Services, Senator Payne, representing the Minister for Education. Can the minister advise the Senate how the government is boosting Australia's research capacity in the tertiary education sector, particularly with initiatives in the recent budget?

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Boyce for her question. The Australian government is absolutely committed to the long-term sustainability of Australia's research capacity and, in particular, to building a world-class tertiary education and research sector as one of the five pillars of a stronger, more productive and prosperous Australia. Through the education portfolio alone, we are investing $11 billion over the forward estimates to enable Australian researchers to discover and deliver outcomes that benefit the whole nation. This is in addition to the establishment of the $20 billion Medical Research Future Fund, the largest medical research fund of its kind in the world. We have committed $150 billion in 2015-16 to support the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy, or NCRIS, projects, and we will review research provision and requirements in line with the recommendations of the Commission of Audit, which said:

Quality research infrastructure is a critical component of Australia’s research and development system …

Through this budget, we have committed to the ARC Future Fellowships scheme on an ongoing basis and will invest an additional $139.5 million to provide 100 new four-year Future Fellowships over the next four years. We have committed $127 million of funding, through the ARC, to key priorities—

Senator Kim Carr interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! On my left, I need silence. I am entitled to hear the answer.

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We have committed $127 million of funding, through the ARC, to key priorities, including $42 million to the James Cook University to expand their capacity in tropical health and medicine; $26 million to ARC Discovery, as part of our $200 million commitment to intensify research in dementia; $35 million for a national network to coordinate research towards finding a cure for type 1 juvenile diabetes; and $24 million for the Antarctic Gateway Partnership in Tasmania. Unlike those opposite, this government understands that— (Time expired)

Sue Boyce (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Can the minister advise the Senate how the government's support for research compares with the previous government's approach to research?

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is a very good question from Senator Boyce, because, unfortunately, as well as ballooning deficits and debt, the previous government left funding cliffs everywhere in this area for some of our most significant research programs, so, not only are we working to repair the national budget; we have listened to the concerns of researchers about those funding cliffs which have been raised with us. What their record shows is that they cut the Sustainable Research Excellence in Universities scheme by nearly $500 million. Not a single dollar was set aside by Labor for the NCRIS beyond 30 June next year. There are 27 facilities funded under NCRIS across Australia, and 222 research institutions use these facilities. We have provided a further $150 million for NCRIS as part of our higher education reform package. But, similarly, they left no provision for any new awards from 2015 for our Future Fellowships program. (Time expired).

Sue Boyce (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise to ask a further supplementary question. Can the minister further advise the Senate what benefits the government support for research will have in my home state of Queensland?

Senator Kim Carr interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Carr.

Senator Ronaldson interjecting—

Order! Senator Ronaldson. Senator Boyce, you have asked the question. I am waiting to call the minister.

Senator Ronaldson interjecting—

Order! Senator Ronaldson.

Senator Kim Carr interjecting—

Order! Senator Carr.

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Boyce for her interest in research and tertiary education in Queensland. On 9 May, our colleague, the honourable Christopher Pyne, the Minister for Education, announced a $42-million investment in ground-breaking tropical health and medical research to be conducted by James Cook University in Queensland matched by the Queensland government. Tropical diseases like Dengue fever and other emerging infectious diseases are on the rise and pose a considerable threat to Australians living in the north. This investment we make will help boost Australian research and help protect more Australians against these and other diseases.

Senator Carr has previously seen fit to object to this research on tropical health and medicine being undertaken in the tropics by James Cook University, which has strongly and effectively focused itself as one of the world's leading universities for the tropics.

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

No, I object to a sweetheart deal which undermines the integrity of the ARC in one foul sweep.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Carr.

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Established in 1913, one of only eight individually recognised centres of excellence for tropical medicine— (Time expired).

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.