[ASA] Fwd: STA BUDGET UPDATE

[John O'Byrne]

Begin forwarded message:

> Resent-From: <john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au>
> From: Catriona Jackson <catriona.jackson at sta.org.au>
> Subject: STA BUDGET UPDATE
> Date: 13 May 2014 10:23:30 pm AEST
> To: Catriona Jackson <catriona.jackson at sta.org.au>
> 
> **STA presidents – please send on to your members ASAP**
> 
> Dear STA members and Friends,
> Tonight’s Federal Budget has been a mixed one for science and technology.
> 
> Some of the more serious rumoured cuts – especially to CSIRO, have not materialised, with perhaps the most notable life-line being thrown to big science infrastructure in the form of $150m for one additional year (2015-16) of the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS).
> 
> However the budget cuts $420 million over the next 4 years from five science agencies — the Australian Research Council (ARC) ($74.9m), the CSIRO ($111.4m), the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) ($120m), Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) ($27.6m), and Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) ($7.8m) – as well as Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) program ($80m).
> 
> As always the full impact on science is very hard to assess accurately, because there is science and technology in almost everything we do - across almost every government department and agency.
> 
> We will spend the following days and weeks scrutinising the papers to give you the clearest picture possible, but here is our initial summary straight from the budget lock up.
> 
> Regards,
> STA CEO Catriona Jackson
> 
> 
> 
> Budget 2014/15
> 
> Science agency cuts
> 
> Feared big cuts to CSIRO have not materialised, but a series of cuts across science agencies have gone ahead. There are cuts of $420 million over the next 4 years, to five science agencies — the Australian Research Council (ARC) ($74.9m), the CSIRO ($111.4m), the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) ($120m), Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) ($27.6m), and Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) ($7.8m) – as well as the Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) program ($80m).
> 
> NCRIS
> 
> Big science infrastructure - including leading-edge facilities like the Australia Synchrotron - has had a significant, short-term reprieve with a one year injection of $150million for 2015/16. This is a boost in annual allocation terms, but is only for one year
> 
> Australian Research Council (ARC)
> 
> The Future Fellowships scheme - for top rank mid-career researchers - will continue but in in much reduced terms, with $140m available for fellowships over the next 4 years, compared with $150m each year previously. It is unclear whether the fellowships will be of the same value.
> 
> A number of measures will be funded out of ARC funds, including an Antarctic Gateway Partnership.
> 
> The total final budget impact on the ARC is unclear.
> 
> 
> 
> Other measures include:
> 
> A Medical Research Future Fund, with additional funds for medical research, will be established. Its creation is dependent on the passing of all health savings legislation, with a target of $276m by 2017/18, and more in later years. The aim is create a long-term fund for research, with some distributed via the National Health Medical Research Council.
> 
> The Australian Renewable Energy Agency will be abolished at a saving of $1.3bn.
> 
> $100 million more over 4 years for research via the Rural Research and Development Corporations.
> 
> $5m of new money or the Australian Academy of Science Primary Connections and Science by Doing.
> 
> ANSTO will receive an additional $76.6m to cover the increased cost of nuclear fuel and disposal activities.
> 
> Research training scheme - postgraduate research students will now make a contribution to their course costs. Higher education providers will be able to introduce fees at the rate of $3,900 per full time student for high cost courses, and $1,700 for low cost courses.
> 
> Australia-China Science and Research Fund - $10m of new money over four years.
> 
> Carbon Capture and Storage Flagships - Reduced funding which will result in savings of $162.9m in 2017-18.
> 
> Marine National Facility - an additional $65.7 million over four years for the Marine National Facility to operate the new research vessel RV investigator. CSIRO to provide $21.1 million to cover costs.
> 
> PM science prize, National Science Week and Questacon Smart Skills,
> 
> will be funded with a total of $28 million over four years.
> 
> The National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility will be re- established with $9m over three years.
> 
> Office of Water Science research programme - Saving of $10m over five years will be made, with the program terminating on 30 June 2016.
> 
> The National Environmental Research Programme and the Australian Climate Change Science programme will be amalgamated to form a new National Environmental Science Programme, saving $21.7m over four years. 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Catriona Jackson
> Chief Executive Officer
> Science & Technology Australia
> Giving voice to Australian Science & Technology for over 27 years
> www.sta.org.au
> www.respectthescience.org.au
> catriona.jackson at sta.org.au
> 
> T:  02 6257 2891
> M: 0417142238
> 
> PO Box 259
> Canberra City ACT 2601
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR JOHN O’BYRNE
Associate Head (Teaching & Learning), School of Physics
Associate Dean (Standards), Faculty of Science 
Secretary, Astronomical Society of Australia Inc. 

Sydney Institute for Astronomy
School of Physics | Faculty of Science

THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY
Rm 205, Physics Building A28Rm 222 | alternate: 44-70 Rosehill St Redfern H90 (see map)
Postal address: School of Physics | The University of Sydney | NSW | Australia | 2006
T +61 2 9351 3184  | F +61 2 9351 7726  
E john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au  | W  http://sydney.edu.au/science/physics/~obyrne 

CRICOS 00026A
This email plus any attachments to it are confidential. Any unauthorised use is strictly prohibited. 
If you receive this email in error, please delete it and any attachments. 
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This email uses 100% recycled words and ideas.  Do you really need to print it?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------









-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.sydney.edu.au/pipermail/asa/attachments/20140513/1b4f0995/attachment-0006.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Budget 2014 members FINAL.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 50973 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://mailman.sydney.edu.au/pipermail/asa/attachments/20140513/1b4f0995/attachment-0003.pdf>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.sydney.edu.au/pipermail/asa/attachments/20140513/1b4f0995/attachment-0007.html>