I pledge to respect research and call on the Federal and Victorian State governments to:

  1. Respect research as fundamental to our country's health and prosperity.
  2. Lift Australia’s total spending on research and development to 4% of GDP, while maintaining public funding for all areas of research.
  3. Increase operational funding from the Victorian Government, to keep research institutes’ at the cutting edge.
  4. Stop the 'brain drain', while retaining and recruiting world-leading researchers by providing secure careers and exceptional national infrastructure.
  5. Plug the funding gap between research and commercialisation, so life-saving inventions aren’t sitting on the shelf.
  6. Respect academic independence, peer-review and expert recommendations.
  7. Ensure young Australians get a better understanding of science and research at school by stopping cuts to education and fully funding Gonski.
21,750 PLEDGES
25,000 pledges

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Why is this important?

In Abbott’s 2014 cruel budget cuts, $400 million was cut from research institutions. Australia’s research and development investment remains near the lowest recorded percentage of GDP in Australian history.

The Turnbull government was responsible for dropping science from the Federal ministry, Australian Research Council funding going backwards in real terms, slashing resources for the CSIRO and axing funding for the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF).

Now, Scott Morrison is raiding the research budget, which funds researchers' salaries, laboratories and libraries. Instead of robbing Peter to pay Paul, we should be giving research the funding it needs.

Australia depends on research, but governments repeatedly threaten research funds when setting federal budgets. This is short sighted. Research funding can’t be turned on and off like a tap and it needs secure, long-term public support.

The industries and jobs of the 21st century will rely on our minds, not our mines. 

Join our campaign to respect research and support fostering a culture where experimentation, invention and innovation can truly flourish in Australia.

Adam Bandt, Australian Greens spokesperson for Science, Research and Innovation

Ellen Sandell, Victorian Greens spokesperson for Science and Innovation

 

We respectfully acknowledge the Wurundjeri as the Traditional Owners of this country, pay tribute to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and give respect to the Elders past, present and emerging.

 

Respect Research is a campaign of Adam Bandt and the Australian Greens Victoria. Authorised by C. Quinn, Australian Greens Victoria, Lvl 1, 45 William St, Melbourne 3000

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