The Albanese Government has unveiled its new National Science Statement.

The Statement sets out a plan for the next decade, aimed at reshaping Australia’s science and research landscape. 

With a focus on addressing critical challenges like climate change, industrial transformation, and national resilience, the Statement promises to place science at the forefront of national policy. 

However, experts have raised concerns that without robust implementation, the Statement might fall short of its goals.

The National Science Statement lays down five key imperatives that will guide Australia’s science system until 2034. 

It seeks to ensure that Australian science shapes the future, sits at the heart of industry, supports a diverse and skilled workforce, drives regional and global interests, and prepares for future challenges. 

The Statement highlights Australia’s achievements, noting that the country produced 3.4 per cent of the world’s published research in 2022 despite having only 0.33 per cent of the global population. 

It also celebrates the successes of national science agencies like CSIRO, which has been behind globally significant innovations. 

However, the Statement also stresses the need for new models of science funding and collaboration, particularly mission-led science, to address Australia’s greatest challenges.

While the Statement has been welcomed by many in the scientific community, some experts have expressed concerns that it might lack the necessary support to translate its ambitious goals into reality.

Associate Professor Karen Livesey from the University of Newcastle notes that the Statement may not adequately address the struggles of current scientists who are burdened by high workloads and underfunding. 

“It appears from the statement that universities and large facilities like ANSTO will be business as usual toward 2034,” she said. 

Livesey also highlighted the issue of Australia’s low and decreasing investment in research as a percentage of GDP, which she argues could undermine the effectiveness of the Statement’s goals.

Kylie Walker, CEO of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE), described the Statement as an "authoritative vision" for Australia's future but stressed that to realise this vision, Australia needs to lift its ambition and capability through deeper investment in research and development (R&D). 

Professor Chennupati Jagadish, President of the Australian Academy of Science, lauded the Statement's ambitious goals but warned that they would be “ineffective without an implementation plan to drive action across government portfolios, industry, and the research sector”.

He called for the National Science and Research Priorities to be supported by investment, emphasising that Australia urgently needs to transition its economy to become more complex and resilient to external shocks.

The statement is supported by a set of revitalised National Science and Research Priorities.