Committee Secretary Standing Committee on Science and Innovation House of Representatives Parliament House CANBERRA ACT 2600 Email
[email protected] Dear Committee-members, I am pleased to provide the response of the Australian Geoscience Council to the Inquiry by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Science and Innovation into Australian technological innovation and pathways to commercialisation. The Australian Geoscience Council is the Peak Council of geoscientists in Australia. It represents nine major Australian geoscientific societies and has a membership of over 7000 professionals. We believe that the geosciences are critical for Australia, as shown by the accompanying sample of innovative technology case studies in the geosciences. Our submission is made in four parts: • This cover letter and a one page Executive Summary containing the Geoscience Council’s eight recommendations, • Eleven pages responding to the eight Terms of Reference for the Inquiry and developing the rationale behind the Geoscience Council’s recommendations, • Twenty one appendices (pages 14 to 46), each providing a summary case study of technological innovation in the geosciences, • Appendix 22 (page 47) which describes a relevant activity from another country. The resource industry in Australia is characterised by sustained innovation, and the sector continues to create new wealth for Australia with long lead times. Resources (including gold) achieved more of Australia’s export earnings in 2004 than any other sector, while also delivering employment and other flow-on benefits to the community in both urban and remote regions. However, these achievements derive from successful exploration of decades past. In order to project past performance into the future, Australia needs greater innovation in technologies, concepts and knowledge, as well as sustained levels of qualified people.