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ACADEMY OF SCIENCE WELCOMES NEW SCIENCE MINISTERS
23 November 2001

The Australian Academy of Science today welcomed the appointment of Dr Brendan Nelson to the newly structured portfolio of Education, Science and Training.

The President of the Academy, Professor Brian Anderson, said:

'Dr Nelson is well known for his involvement in many social issues. He shows every sign of bringing enthusiasm and energy to an Education and Training portfolio that has been revitalised by the addition of Science.

Anderson added:

'Dr Nelson has had a broad range of parliamentary experience and chaired the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Education, Employment and Workplace Relations for more than two years. He will be very aware of the critical issues facing science education in Australia.'

Anderson paid tribute to the outgoing Minister for Industry, Science and Resources, Senator Nick Minchin, for promoting a high profile for science and for articulating the benefits that science and innovation can bring to a modern economy. This was possible because Senator Minchin brought Science into the Cabinet room.

Anderson added that the appointment of a dedicated and experienced Minister for Science, Peter McGauran MP, was welcome, in terms of keeping the government on track to deliver the promises articulated by the last Howard ministry.

'But support at Cabinet level, particularly by the Prime Minister, must be sustained. It is important that the position of Chief Scientist and the prominence of the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council be maintained.'

He said: 'The social and economic well-being of any society is critically dependent on its ability to capture and apply scientific knowledge. For this reason it is always difficult to know whether Science is better placed with industry or with education. The new arrangements should stimulate closer links between government research agencies, such as CSIRO, and the universities.'