| $26 million in funding to finance Australia’s IT innovators
An e-library and a web-based digital printing system
are just two of the 31 innovations that have been
awarded more that $26 million AUS under AusIndustry’s
R&D Start Program this month.
Federal Industry Minister, Ian Macfarlane, announced
earlier this month that there had been a particularly
strong response from IT companies for R&D Start
funding which is a highly competitive program designed
to help commercialization of a service or product.
“We’ve seen some very clever, even cutting-edge,
projects come out of this program in recent years.
IT products like ERG’s Smartcard which underpins
public transport systems and MicroAir’s aviation
transponder continue to make an impact in Australian
and overseas markets,” said Mr. Macfarlane.
“This latest batch of projects is sure to produce
more commercial success stories which will further
boost the international Australian reputation for innovation
and smart ideas. All they require is a helping hand
to get up over the commercialization hurdle,” he
said.
The R&D Start program, available only to Australian
companies, is a merit-based program designed to assist
Australian industry to undertake projects through a
range of grants and loans.
”Since January 2001, 386 companies have received
R&D Start funding totaling more than $372 million.
It is an investment in our economic future that will
reap great dividends,” said Mr. Macfarlane.
Health spending is growing at its fastest rate in a decade
A surge in consumer health spending has been powered
by Australia’s appetite for complementary medicines
and new hi-tech drugs, a growing demand for surgery
and bigger out-of-pocket costs to see GPs, specialists
and dentists.
Data released by the Australian Institute of Health
and Welfare shows that health spending climbed 6
per cent in the year to June 2002, the highest growth
rate since 1991-92. Inflation was 2.5 per cent for
the same period.
Spending hit $66.6 billion – or 9.3 per cent
of gross domestic product – health's biggest
bite ever of the economy.
Report co-author Lindy Ingham indicated that "Most
of the growth is coming from things like over-the-counter
medicines, vitamins and other complementary medicines,
and medicines on which no (government) benefits are
paid," she said. "So the patient pays the
full amount."
Despite record spending, Australia's outlay is
on par with France and Canada, ahead of Britain
and New Zealand but short of the US, which spends
13.9 per cent of its GDP on healthcare each year,
largely due to the lack of cost controls.
Looking at a sustainable future
As Australia moves to larger urban populations, the
pressures on land, resource and waste management
increase. To ensure that Australian cities of the
future are clean, liveable and accessible, the House
of Representatives Environment Committee is to conduct
a new inquiry into “Sustainable Cities 2025.
House Environment Committee Chair, Mr. Bruce Billson
MP said the inquiry will examine how cities of the
future can meet the social, environmental and economic
needs of Australia within the unique context of the
Australian landscape.
“Integrating the built and natural environment
in a sustainable manner requires planning and a clearly
articulated strategy”, said Billson “ Identifying
these issues and articulating a forward strategy
for the nation is the target of this inquiry.”
Public discussion and input on the inquiry is being
encouraged for the development of a “blueprint” that
may be used by municipal planning committees.
Issues to be looked at by the inquiry include desirable
patterns of urban growth, a blueprint for ecologically
sustainable settlement patterns, as well as eco-efficiency
and equity in the provision of services and infrastructure.
Submissions to the inquiry will be received until
October 30, 2003, after which, roundtable forums
will be held to collect further data.
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