Regular news from state and federal governments.
CSIRO launch Flagship Collaboration Fund
May 9 – The Federal Government has announced the launch of the CSIRO's AU$97 million Flagship Collaboration Fund to support enhanced collaborative research between universities, the CSIRO and other publicly funded research agencies. As part of CSIRO's National Research Flagships program, the Fund will support joint research projects and larger research collaborations, as well as Visiting Fellowships and Postgraduate Scholarships. Applications for AU$8.6 million in funding made available in 2005-06 are now being accepted.
[Source: Federal Government Announcement]
Supermarket push to sell prescription drugs
May 9 – In an attempt to gain access to the AU$9 billion pharmaceuticals market, Woolworths has asked the Federal Government for permission to begin trials to sell prescription drugs in a number of its supermarkets. Under the trial plan, Woolworths would create dedicated pharmaceutical dispensing areas within the supermarket. The move coincides with the Government's negotiations with the Pharmacy Guild over a new five-year, AU$11.75 billion deal covering the dispensing of prescription medicine. Woolworths has asked that any agreement between the Government and Pharmacy Guild be limited to one year, instead of five. Woolworths has also made a request for the Productivity Commission or the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to carry out a review of the distribution of pharmaceuticals at both retail and wholesale levels.
[Source: The Age]
