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

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Industry and Science, Senator Ronaldson. I refer to a report released today showing that $145 million worth of economic activity, or 11 per cent of the Australian economy, relies directly on advanced mathematics and physical sciences. I further refer to the government's last budget, which cut more than $1.5 billion from Australian science, research and commercialisation. Given the overwhelming evidence that science underpins prosperity, can the minister rule out further cuts to science research in the next budget?

Government Senators:

Government senators interjecting—

Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Carr has been a busy old sausage over the last 24 hours. Clearly, Senator Conroy has hidden his book 'North Korea on $10 a Day', and he has had to do something else since. What I will say in relation to this is that Senator Carr constantly is reflecting back onto his own times of inactivity. As I have said before, this government is deeply committed to science, research and innovation. But those are not just words: there is $9.2 billion in science research and innovation. People talk about where this is leading: is this going to lead to jobs? Are advanced manufacturing jobs being grown? Just out of interest, I was advised this morning that there has been growth in manufacturing jobs to 922,400 jobs in the February quarter up from 913,200 jobs in the November quarter. They are predominantly full-time jobs.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order on direct relevance to the question. There was a specific question which I am sure Senator Carr could table. It said, 'Can the minister ruled out further cuts to science and research in the next budget?' That was the question, and we have 30 seconds to go.

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

I will remind the minister of the question. He does have 30 seconds in which to answer.

Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We now know the Australian Labor Party views an increase in manufacturing jobs as bad news.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You can't answer the question! You can't answer the question, and everybody behind you knows it! You're an embarrassment!

Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We think it is good news, and the 9.2—

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You can't answer the question!

Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The worst finance minister in Australia's history—

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, a point of order on direct relevance to the question: you have drawn the attention of the minister to the question, and we only have eight seconds to go that this stage.

Cory Bernardi (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I raise a point of order.

Opposition senators interjecting—

Senator Lines interjecting—

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

On my left! Senator Lines!

Cory Bernardi (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I was listening to the minister comprehensively cover the question, and I could not hear him because of the disorderly interjections from Senator Wong, which were rather shrill and abusive I thought.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the point of order: I said he couldn't answer the question. I have been accused of being abusive, Mr President. I will put it on the record: I said, 'He can't answer the question.'

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

There is no point of order

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Mr President, on the point of order: Senator Wong knows that she said a lot more than that which she has put on the record. This is disgraceful behaviour.

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

There is no point of order.

Opposition senators interjecting—

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If I am asked to withdraw something that has been alleged they can tell me.

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

I do not think you were asked to withdraw anything, Senator Wong.

Senator Lines interjecting—

Order, Senator Lines! In relation to the points of order—

Honourable senators interjecting—

On both sides! In relation to Senator Moore's point of order, I will remind the minister of the question. In relation to Senator Bernardi's point of order, I will remind all senators that the noise has been intolerable again, today, and that interjections are completely disorderly. Senator Ronaldson, you have eight seconds in which to answer the question.

Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In my representative capacity I have been telling the chamber exactly what the government's commitment is to science and innovation and manufacturing. (Time expired)

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

I ask a supplementary question. I refer to the same report, which found that the hard sciences account for seven per cent of employment and contribute 23 per cent of exports. Can the minister explain why this government remains committed to cutting support for science and engineering degrees by more than 28 per cent?

Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Of course, Senator Carr will not refer to the $1.82 million to secure the operation of vital scientific assets and he will not talk about the government investing a further $12 million to improve the focus on the STEM subjects that he was referring to. When he talks about cuts, why doesn't he talk about the increase in STEM funding? Why doesn't he talk about the $3 billion for CSIRO? Senator Carr has shown his extraordinary ignorance again in relation to this matter: science, technology, engineering and mathematics are, indeed, STEM. I mean, talk about cuts—I will table a document which refers to the cuts under the Australian Labor Party when Senator Carr was the minister.

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

I rise on a further supplementary question. In light of this minister's failure to answer a single question about the Cooperative Research Centres Programme yesterday—or any today—is the minister now able to assure the Senate that the program will not be further cut or abolished in the upcoming budget?

Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think the chamber might be more surprised if I talked about what was in the budget, as opposed to what may or may not be in the budget. I think, in the interests of fairness, and so we do have a proper debate, I might just go through the Australian Labor Party's cuts in relation to this—

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

Pause the clock.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Order on both sides! Senator Cameron, on a point of order.

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President. This is on relevance: the minister is saying that he is in a debate. He has to answer a question—something he has failed to do ever since he has been on the front bench.

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

Thank you, Senator Cameron. There is no point of order.

Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What Senator Cameron has not done since he has been on the front bench is ask a question of Senator Payne—not one question since September 2013 has been asked by the man who just—

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Pause the clock. Order on both sides!

Senator Conroy interjecting—

That means you too, Senator Conroy. Senator Moore on a point of order.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is on direct relevance to the question asked by Senator Carr. It is about the minister being able to assure the Senate that the program will not be further cut or abolished in the upcoming budget. It is very straightforward, Mr President. I would ask you to draw the minister's attention to the question.

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

Thank you, Senator Moore. I draw the minister's attention to the question. He has 19 seconds in which to answer.

Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As the Minister for Finance said, on the second Tuesday in May the budget will be announced. I will just go through the Labor cuts: the 2014 budget, an efficiency dividend of two per cent, a saving of $902 million—

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise on a point of order, Mr President, again direct relevance. I seek your assurance in this place as to whether reading out a list actually responds directly to our question. Is that directly relevant?

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

Just prior to the minister referring to the list as you have just mentioned, Senator Moore, he did indicate that the answer will be in the budget in May—which was part of the question. But, as always, ministers are entitled to enhance their answers—

Honourable senators interjecting—

Order! Minister, have you concluded your answer? You have two seconds remaining.

Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, I have not done—and in fact, there was the cessation of the facility funding of $384 million— (Time expired)