Australasian Science 11-5

“Thegovernment is maintaining support for the science budget:

the Academy is pleased to see this indication of a long-term

commitment to science inAustralia.

“We warmly welcome the announcement of additional funding

for Australia’s Antarctic program. Australia is a leader in Antarctic

science, and it’s great to see a long-term commitment like this.

“I’m delighted to see this major new investment from the

Australian government to undertake new modelling of mineral

resources... Our mineral wealth has helped to sustain long-term

economic growth in Australia. This announcement will help us

ind new mineral deposits and has the potential to deliver long-

term economic gains for Australia.”

Prof Andrew Holmes is the President of The Australian Academy of Science.

“The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) announced as part

of the 2014 Budget was a big win for our sector, and important

recognition of the critical role it plays in our economy, and the

health of the community, through improved diagnostics and

treatments, and tremendous savings to the health system.

“Hopefully this additional funding will reassure many concerned

medical researchers that they have a future in Australia, after a

recent survey by Professional Scientists Australia found four out

of ive medical researchers were considering leaving the sector due

to a lack of job security primarily stemming from funding issues.

“As a nation we invest hugely in the training of our talented

medical researchers, and we simply cannot afford to keep wasting

this talent. We must ensure our best and brightest continue to work

in Australia, conducting world-class research that helps save lives,

and money.

“The MRFF will be a huge boost for medical research funding

in Australia, and should encourage our best and brightest to stay

here and make the discoveries that will help our people and our

economy.

“The MRFF is the sort of far-sighted public policy we so often

cry out for in Australia. If jobs and growth are what Australia

needs, then there is no better investment than in medical inno-

vation.”

Prof Doug Hilton is President of the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes.

“The increase in tobacco tax alone will translate to tens of thou-

sands of cancer deaths avoided, with trend data showing that the

recurrent increases will lead to around 320,000 smokers quitting

and 40,000 teenagers deterred from taking smoking up.

“Key commitments also included:

• $29.9 million over 3 years to integrate Australia’s cancer-
  screening registries;


• $63.8 million to subsidise medicines for breast and prostate
  cancer and melanoma;


• $21.3 million to trial up to 200 Health Care Homes, with the
  aim of integrating prevention and care for people with chronic
  and complex conditions; and


• $5.3 million for continued promotion of the Health Star
  Rating food labelling system.
  “Additional investment and policy work are required in all
  the areas targeted by these initiatives, but the government should
  nonetheless be commended for its commitments. 
  “For example, the screening register has great potential to
  monitor screening participation, but we will need to do more to
  increase participation itself – particularly in bowel cancer screening,
  where the beneits are extraordinary but awareness is low.
  “Funding for cancer medicines is also welcome, however govern-
  ments in Australia and elsewhere will need to do more to assist
  ple with rarer cancers who face exorbitant treatment costs.
  The funding for piloting Health Care Homes also puts some
  stance to a longstanding need to do more to enhance chronic
  ease control at the primary care level, and help inform an
  ongoing commitment.
  Prof Sanchia Aranda is CEO of the Cancer Council Australia.

40 | JUNE 2016

EXPERT OPINION Australian Science Media Centre

Federal Budget 2016

The Federal Budget announced an additional $100 million for geographical modelling of

mineral, petroleum and groundwater resources, and $200 million over 10 years for Antarctic

research. However, there were no direct budget measures relating to CSIRO.

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