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

I, and also on behalf of Senators Lazarus, Muir, Rhiannon, Xenophon, Madigan, Lambie and Wang, move:

That the Senate calls on the Government to commit to the allocation and release of $150 million in funding for the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy in 2015 16 that was included in the 2014 15 Budget.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. This motion is redundant, because Minister Pyne announced yesterday that the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy will be guaranteed funding in 2015-16. The previous government left no money for the NCRIS past 30 June 2015. The government has met this funding cliff, something the previous government was not willing to do.

The government has a strong commitment to research which is why the government spends $9 billion a year on research, which is why the government has introduced a comprehensive reform to Australia's higher education and research sector.

If the opposition did care about research funding, they would work with the government to pass the Higher Education and Research Reform Bill 2014, as it makes Future Fellowships an ongoing program and places Australia's university on a sound financial footing.

Question agreed to.