Government news
- ACT Government backs biotechnology centre bid
- Biotechnology ethics committee to be established in Victoria
- Cabinet considers recommendation to ban stem cell research
- CSIRO studying link between nutrition and DNA damage
- CSIRO releases critical internal assessment
- Federal Government disapproves of PBS listing of Viagra
- Research Council issues new Discovery - Projects Guidelines
- Victorian Government announces Innovation Agenda
- Western Australian MP says GM discussion paper is misleading
ACT Government backs biotechnology centre bid
22 February - The ACT Government has announced that it is supporting a consortium's bid to build a national biotechnology-based centre of excellence in Canberra, Scitech has reported. The Australian National University, University of Canberra and the Cooperative Research Centre for Animal Pest Control together formed the Australian Bioscience Consortium in order to make the bid. The ACT Government allocated A$6m to assist the consortium with their bid. The decision as to who has won the right to build the centre of excellence is expected to be known in June or July this year.
[Source: Scitech]
Biotechnology ethics committee to be established in Victoria
21 February - To adhere to its biotechnology policy that all actions are undertaken within an ethical framework, the Victorian Government is establishing a Victorian Biotechnology Ethics Advisory Committee (VBEAC). The role of the VBEAC will be to independently examine any biotech-related ethical matters impacting on Victoria and to provide advice to the Victorian Minister for Health upon request.
[Source: Victorian Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development]
Cabinet considers recommendation to ban stem cell research
25 February - Federal Cabinet met today to consider a recommendation that the practice of reproducing human stem cells for the purposes of research (known as 'therapeutic cloning') be banned in Australia, The Australian Financial Review has reported. The recommendation, raised by the Federal Minister for Ageing, Mr Kevin Andrews, goes against a recommendation made last year by federal health minister, Dr Michael Wooldridge, that stem cell research be facilitated as it is necessary to improve the chances of finding cures for illnesses such as diabetes and asthma. The Department of Industry has apparently urged its minister, Mr Ian Macfarlane to reject Mr Andrews' recommendation because it will jeopardise Australia's aspirations to be a leader in the global biotechnology industry.
[Source: The Australian Financial Review- Steve Lewis]
CSIRO studying link between nutrition and DNA damage
22 February - The CSIRO has established a Genome Stability Project team to determine whether a person's nutrition actually influences the DNA in their cells, Scitech has reported. According to team scientists, if a causal link between micronutrients and DNA damage can be established, then dietary supplements could be used to minimise such damage.
[Source: Scitech]
CSIRO releases critical internal assessment
22 February - The CSIRO has released a 'very honest' internal assessment in which it states that uncompetitive salaries and a ban on sharing of profits generated from intellectual property has resulted in a large number of staff leaving the organisation, The Canberra Times has reported. CSIRO's new head, Dr Geoff Garnett has proposed major changes to the management structure of the organisation, plus a reduction in 'external earnings targets' - due to concerns that they were putting too much pressure on staff.
[Source: The Canberra Times- Catrina Jackson]
Federal Government disapproves of PBS listing of Viagra
14 February - The Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Kay Patterson, has announced that the government will not approve listing the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Senator Patterson said that this decision was made due to the potentially high cost, given that the PBS already cost A$4.2bn in 2000-2001. The government considered that funding for erectile dysfunction should not be a priority, particularly as there is already increasing demand on the PBS.
[Source: Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing]
Research Council issues new Discovery - Projects Guidelines
14 February - The Australian Research Council (ARC) has announced that it has released new Guidelines for those that wish to apply for funding through its Discovery - Projects program for 2003. The previous Guidelines, released in November 2001, have been revoked. The ARC's Discovery - Projects is part of the National Competitive Grants Program (which comprises Discovery and Linkage elements) that was introduced last year. The revised Guidelines follow the recent announcement by Federal Minister for Science Education and Training, Dr Brendan Nelson, that one third of the 2003 funding for the ARC's National Competitive Grants Program will be allocated to four priority areas: nano- and bio-materials; genome/phenome research; complex/intelligent systems, and photon science and technology.
Details about the new Discovery - Projects guidelines are available from the ARC website.
[Source: Australian Research Council]
Victorian Government announces Innovation Agenda
21 February - Following the establishment of an innovation portfolio in Victoria, with John Brumby the new Minister for Innovation, Victoria's Bracks Government recently announced its Innovation Agenda for the next 12 months. Included in this Agenda are new initiatives to augment research and development in Victoria and increase the level of commercialisation, as well as initiatives to ensure that Victoria is a leader in biotechnology, information and communication technology and new manufacturing technologies.
[Source: Victorian Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development]
Western Australian MP says GM discussion paper is misleading
18 February - According to Greens WA parliamentarian, Jim Scott, the Western Australian Department of Agriculture has provided the public with misleading information about genetically modified crops, The West Australian has reported. Mr Scott said that this misleading information relates to claims of yield and profit benefits from genetically modified soy bean crops in the United States made in the department's discussion paper, titled 'Genetic Modification-Free Zones'. In response, a spokesperson for the department said that the department neither advocated nor rejected genetically modified technologies.
[Source: The West Australian- Carmelo Amalfi]
