Fed: Invention will make us prosperous, Rudd says
DATELINE: SYDNEY April 24
Innovation and research will be the foundation for prosperity in Australia, federal Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd says.
Mr Rudd and Opposition science spokesman Kim Carr today unveiled Labor's plan for long-term productivity through investment in these areas.
Under the plan - titled New Directions for Innovation, Competitiveness and Productivity - Labor would appoint a full-time chief scientist for Australia, upgrading the role from part-time.
The key policy areas of industry, science and research would be combined within one government department to provide national leadership and ensure a coordinated approach to policy development.
The New Directions paper also includes an investment of up to $200 million to establish 10 Enterprise Connect innovation centres around Australia.
Through the centres companies would be able to have their businesses benchmarked against best practice, as well as accessing facilities for prototyping and testing.
Labor also would establish Industry Innovation Councils to support the Enterprise Connect network, so that high-level decision makers and experts could work together to build an innovation culture in Australian businesses, research institutions, universities, and all levels of government.
"Federal Labor's paper demonstrates that improving Australia's research and innovation performance is essential to keeping Australian industry competitive in a fast-paced, rapidly changing world economy," Mr Rudd said.
"Innovation allows existing businesses and industries to stay at the leading edge while enabling new firms and new industries to emerge, creating jobs and income for Australians well into the future."
Mr Rudd said the investment in innovation complemented existing policies investing in people and infrastructure, and reducing unnecessary business regulation, to support long-term growth and jobs in Australia.
"This is important because we are embracing the challenges the Australian economy faces to build long-term prosperity," Mr Rudd said.
"If you're going to build long-term economic prosperity you've got to do something which looks after Australia's interests after the mining boom is over."