b'Canberra observed The bad: Government R&D investment at lowest level as percentage of GDPOver the last 10 years the government investment in R&D has relentlessly declined as a percentage of GDP.According to a report released on 19 June 2020 by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the total government investment in R&D during the financial year 2018-19 was $3330 million. This is a marginal increase over the last result, of $3279 million, for the 2016-17 financial year. However, in terms of R&D as a percentage of GDP the result is very disappointing - falling to 0.17%, the lowest it has ever been. (http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/8109.0?OpenDocument and https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/5204.0.). Figure 1 shows the data for the period 1992-2019.Australian Government organisations contributed $2110 million (63%), and stateFigure 1.Government investment in R&D from 1992-2019. The red curve shows the total investment as a and territory government organisationspercentage of GDP. See the text for the data sources.contributed $1219 million (37%), to total government expenditure on R&Dfrom 2016-17. Medical and HealthAnd to make matters worse, Rio did not (GOVERD). Fortunately, investmentSciences ($640 million), Agricultural andapologise for blowing up the cave, only by state and territory governmentVeterinary Sciences ($558 million) andfor the distress the event caused.organisations increased by $80 millionEngineering ($521 million) accounted forNot good enough for a leading resource (7%) compared to 2016-17, otherwise theover half (52%) of total GOVERD. company.outcome would have been much worse,Medical and Health Sciences recorded because the Australian Governmentsthe largest dollar increase of $138 million 2.The Government needlessly contribution declined by $29 million. (28%), between 2016-17 and 2018-19.antagonising our main trading The three most populous states VictoriaAfter COVID-19 the health sector will bepartner($803 million), New South Wales ($658even more dominant. However, Researcha)I could never understand what million) and Queensland ($616 million)and Development does not appear tooutcome the Government thought it accounted for over half (62%) of totalbe high on the Australian Governmentswould get by spearheading a push for GOVERD. Queensland recorded the largestagenda. The ABS only produces thesean independent investigation into the increase in dollar terms, up $78 milliondata every two years (most OECDorigins of the COVID-19 pandemic. It (14%). The Australian Capital Territorycountries publish annual results) andachieved nothing except needlessly recorded the largest dollar decrease,the efficiency dividend (death by aupsetting China, and penalising those down $42 million (11%). However, it stillthousand cuts) is still applied annually towho used to export barley to China.recorded the highest ratio of GOVERD toCommonwealth science-based agencies,b) The second act was to consider a GDP of 0.81%; ahead of Tasmania, whichsuch as CSIRO. special status for refugees from Hong came in second at 0.45%. Kong. The treaty China had over the Applied research totalled $1835 millionThe very bad Hong Kong issue was with the UK (55% of GOVERD) followed by Strategicnot Australia. All we had to say was basic research at $840 million (25%),1.Rio Tinto blowing up the Jinmium rockthat we have a policy for providing Experimental development at $520art site in WA refugee status to anyone, and people million (16%) and Pure basic researchAfter all the good work that hasfrom Hong Kong would be dealt with at $135 million (4%). Between 2016-17been done by the resource sectorunder this policy. We could still have and 2018-19 Experimental developmentto interact with and employ localtaken refugees from Hong Kong, but recorded the largest dollar increase ofindigenous people, Rio Tinto blew upwithout being so blatant about it.$60 million (13%). a 46 000-year-old Aboriginal heritageWe really need better diplomacy that The top three Fields of Research, in termssite at Juukan Gorge with the press ofprotects our trade with China without of expenditure, remained unchangeda button. compromising our independence.25 PREVIEW AUGUST 2020'