THE federal government has appointed a critic of its axing of the $700 million commercial ready research support program to a key advisory role on the Australian Research Council.
Science Minister Kim Carr has appointed BioMelbourne Network board member Robyn Baker to the ARC's advisory council.
The advisory council was set up by Senator Carr to deliver on Labor's election promise to restore independence to the ARC in the wake of the furore over the nine grant applications vetoed by Liberal predecessor Brendan Nelson in2004.
The BioMelbourne Network was among peak scientific, biotech and researcher bodies that warned Wayne Swan last year that further delays in re-establishing an effective commercialisation grants program could be catastrophic to local industry. The group also backed the replacement of the existing research and development tax concession - which has been slated for being widely rorted - with a tax credit, a scheme subsequently adopted by Senator Carr.
Asked about her appointment, Ms Baker, a partner in law firm Clayton Utz, said: "The government is to be commended for appointing someone who was a board member of an organisation that was concerned about the killing of commercial ready. But we also very much welcomed the minister's budget approach in addressing the need for investment."
14/07/2009
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