A YEAR after his government was criticised for failing to appoint a science minister for the first time in decades, Australian prime minister Tony Abbott has announced he will be chairing a Commonwealth Science Council. Its aim is to 鈥渋mprove the focus on science鈥� and be 鈥渢he pre-eminent body for advice on science and technology in Australia鈥�.
The panel includes astrophysicist and Nobel laureate Brian Schmidt, the co-developer of the cervical cancer vaccine, Ian Frazer, Australia鈥檚 ministers for health, education and industry, and its chief scientist.
The council has a budget of A$12 million ($10.5m), in primary and secondary schools.
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questions how far that cash will go: 鈥�$12 million seems like a paltry investment in the education of future scientists鈥�. It notes that in May, A$111 million was slashed from the budget of CSIRO 鈥� Australia鈥檚 national research agency 鈥� over four years.
This article appeared in print under the headline 鈥淪cience agenda鈥�