Fed: Invention will make us prosperous, Rudd says

AAP General News (Australia)
04-24-2007
Fed: Invention will make us prosperous, Rudd says

SYDNEY, April 24 AAP - Innovation and research will be the foundation for prosperity
in Australia, federal Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd says.

Mr Rudd and Opposition science spokesman Kim Carr today unveiled Labor's plan for long-term
productivity through investment in these areas.

Under the plan - titled New Directions for Innovation, Competitiveness and Productivity
- Labor would appoint a full-time chief scientist for Australia, upgrading the role from
part-time.

The key policy areas of industry, science and research would be combined within one
government department to provide national leadership and ensure a coordinated approach
to policy development.

The New Directions paper also includes an investment of up to $200 million to establish
10 Enterprise Connect innovation centres around Australia.

Through the centres companies would be able to have their businesses benchmarked against
best practice, as well as accessing facilities for prototyping and testing.

Labor also would establish Industry Innovation Councils to support the Enterprise Connect
network, so that high-level decision makers and experts could work together to build an
innovation culture in Australian businesses, research institutions, universities, and
all levels of government.

"Federal Labor's paper demonstrates that improving Australia's research and innovation
performance is essential to keeping Australian industry competitive in a fast-paced, rapidly
changing world economy," Mr Rudd said.

"Innovation allows existing businesses and industries to stay at the leading edge while
enabling new firms and new industries to emerge, creating jobs and income for Australians
well into the future."

Mr Rudd said the investment in innovation complemented existing policies investing
in people and infrastructure, and reducing unnecessary business regulation, to support
long-term growth and jobs in Australia.

"This is important because we are embracing the challenges the Australian economy faces
to build long-term prosperity," Mr Rudd said.

"If you're going to build long-term economic prosperity you've got to do something
which looks after Australia's interests after the mining boom is over."

AAP acb/wjf/ks/bwl

KEYWORD: INNOVATION

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