Dio Wang (WA, Palmer United Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Industry and Science, Senator Ronaldson. We learned this week that up to 200 jobs are at risk while the apparent merger of National ICT Australia, NICTA, with CSIRO is being negotiated behind closed doors. NICTA is projected to contribute over $3 billion to Australia's GDP and has been incubating and producing start-up business at an average of one new company every three months. Minister, are we going to discover that this so-called merger is a backdoor for cost-cutting and how do government promises square with the continual shedding of valuable jobs in the research sector?

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

I thank the honourable senator for his question. I understand that the CSIRO board agreed to this proposed merger at its meeting on 30 April, that the NICTA board has agreed to it in principle and that CSIRO anticipates that NICTA members will be asked to agree to changes required to its board and to the NICTA constitution

The two organisations have begun working together on some projects. Formal ratification is required, but I understand that the merger will build a more impactful ICT capability for Australia by creating one of the largest single digital innovation teams in the world.

In relation to the staff, I have a note here from the minister saying that it 'will create one of the world's largest cohorts of highly qualified ICT staff and the collective skill of this team will be used to keep Australia at the leading edge in science and innovation.' The current reduction in funding to NICTA requires a close inspection of all aspects of the merged body to reduce cost.

In relation to the recent Senate estimates hearing, which I think you might be referring to, and the 200 job losses, it may have an impact across both organisations, but I am confident CSIRO will do its utmost to increase external revenue to minimise this. Just in the last 13 seconds, you will appreciate that indeed—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Order on my left!

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

I suppose that has—

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

Thank you, Minister. That was appalling. I trust that senators understand that you are televised. I expect better behaviour than this. That was very pathetic.

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

Mr President, on a point of order: I would invite you to write to the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Shorten, in the other place to indicate the behaviour of his frontbench during question time and that, unless there is some sort of discipline in this place, there will be the farcical situation that we just witnessed egged on by the leader of the opposition in this place. If leadership, Mr President, cannot be shown in this place by Senator Wong, Mr Shorten, clearly, will need to step in.

Barry O'Sullivan (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, on a point of order: the crossbenchers get a rare chance to ask a question and hear an answer. I think you should consider restarting the clock to allow the minister to answer this question fully.

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Order! On my left!

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, on the point of order: I was about to take the same point of order. Senator Wang is entitled to hear the answer to his question without the members of the Labor Party shouting down the minister so Senator Wang cannot hear it.

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

Order! I just want to make the comment that I think this has been one of the worst question times—and there has been bad behaviour on both sides—but what we have just witnessed from my left was very disappointing. Could I ask that all senators just consider their behaviour, consider the duty they have to the public of Australia to behave respectfully in this chamber and let's move on with question time with a lot more decorum, fewer interjections—humorous and intellectual interjections occasionally are very good but not constantly, in a raised voice and continually from the same senators. Can we move on and demonstrate to the public of Australia that they should have confidence in this Senate.

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, on a point of order—

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

Senator Macdonald, if you think this is really going to help.

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wang is entitled to be able to hear the answer to his question—

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

I agree with you.

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

and I am asking that you give Senator Ronaldson at least 13 seconds to finish his answer to Senator Wang.

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Order! Was anyone listening in the last few minutes? We are going to proceed, and I want order. Senator Wang, you have a supplementary question.

Dio Wang (WA, Palmer United Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Why does the government insist that research institutions such as NICTA must be self-sustaining instead of viewing well-founded ICT driven productivity gains as a boon to our economy and to our standing in this globally aggressive digital age?

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

I thank Senator Wang for his question before that rather extraordinary event just before the end of my last question. I was going to say to you that CSIRO is of course an independent body. They will make decisions about how they think the organisation can best go forward. The merger with NICTA, clearly, is from the board's view an appropriate way forward for both organisations. Like you, I would hope that they would manage any potential job losses on the way through.

In relation to your broader question, the relationship between—

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The silence isn't helping!

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

I am sorry, Senator, but there are some in this chamber who refuse to grow up, and I will continue with my answer. (Time expired)

Dio Wang (WA, Palmer United Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Yesterday an ABC report stated that early-stage businesses in Australia are being starved of funding, because venture capital is drying up. What is the government doing today, apart from MRFF, to restore confidence in Australia's research capabilities and address the insecurities that are impairing the motivation of our research workforce?

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

I say to Senator Wang that the relationship between science, scientific organisations, the business community and education institutions is the only way that this nation will advance. The day before yesterday we announced an advanced manufacturing institute in Geelong.

We are determined to ensure through a variety of programs—and I will get you further information as I have only got 21 seconds left—that the entrepreneurship that drove this nation's growth is at the heart of what this government wants to achieve. We believe that appropriate partnerships between government, education and commerce will indeed drive that and we have many, many programs in place which will achieve that. (Time expired)