re: howards agenda.../alan partridge
True Alan. Australia was a leading research nation up to the end of the 60's. Be it in aeronautical or medical, we punched well above our weight. This was fostered by a strong government funded education system that fed from unis into groups like CSIRO. The current government (and the Opposition to a large extent I suspect) have removed much of the government research funding and gone to a "user pay" USA model. Is it any surprise that our young graduates are lurred o/s to the large research institutions and corporations in the USA....it is not just a matter of money for these individuals but more the opportunity to study further on important issues.
We are a consumer society and they dictate what the governments delivers. The real concern is that Australia is just too comfortable and hence don't seem bothered to really do better. It is a bit like Global Warming....once we all agree we have a problem, it will be too late to effect change without major pain. Likewise our economy and world competitive position will slip without a more visionary approach that frontends education and research. By the time we realise we are in trouble the "snorkel will be going under".
