This country probably has enough coal to fuel the world through the next millenium. Our expertise in water and dry land research is probably unparalleled, reflecting the harsh realities of the Australian environment. We should be very proud of the fact that this country has a great deal to offer the developing world. Australian organizations like the Crawford Fund draw heavily on local expertise and are at the forefront of the fight against global poverty and hunger. This is a war that must be won if we are to avoid massive levels of social disruption in the 21st century.
Science policy is difficult.
The problem is that discoveries tend to pay off in the long term. It is not easy for those entrusted with the public purse, who almost invariably have little experience of the scientific culture, to recognize that innovation is fostered by providing talented people with the resources and the time to explore ideas. The increase in teaching loads in the Australian universities is, for example, a matter of current concern. Any proliferation of the time consuming reporting mechanisms beloved by lower-level administrators is a disaster. We live in an age where economic realities are increasingly dictated by knowledge and insight.