STATE ECONOMY — DIVERSIFICATION
243. Mr M. HUGHES to the Minister for Science:
I refer to the McGowan Labor government's significant
investment in creating jobs and diversifying the Western Australian economy.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on how this government is investing in the science
sector in the state, including funding for health and medical life sciences and
the emerging space industry?
(2) Can the minister outline to the house how this investment
will support new jobs in this sector?
Mr R.H. COOK replied:
(1)–(2) I thank the member for the question. I thank the
member for his ongoing commitment to particularly STEM, but the science community generally. It is an
important question. As members all know, Diversify WA is a key
economic policy of the McGowan government to build strength and resilience into
the Western Australian economy. It is about targeting nine sections of our
economy in which we believe we have a competitive
advantage and are right to continue to advocate and build in those areas so
that we can continue to broaden the base of our economy and take Western Australia
forward. Two key areas of that are health and medical life sciences, and space.
I was at a business news breakfast just yesterday, and I was delighted at that
event to be able to make two significant funding announcements in relation to
these sectors.
Last year, I was very proud to launch
WA's first ever medical life sciences strategy, and yesterday we backed
up that announcement with an $8.65 million investment for implementing this strategy
over the next four years. I very much look forward to working with the Minister
for Medical Research and the Minister for Health to seek to commercialise some
of the great medical discoveries that we make here in Western Australia. It is
time that Western Australia benefited economically by ensuring that these great
discoveries are translated, scaled and commercialised in Western Australia so
that we can enjoy the economic benefits of these great scientists. Over the
next four years, this funding will lay the groundwork to establish the state as
a global hub for research development and commercialisation, for digital
health, medical technology, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and health and
wellness products. Supporting WA's growth in health and medical life
sciences is part of the McGowan government's diversification strategy,
and what drives the diversification strategy is a genuine ambition to create
well paid, meaningful jobs, building the opportunities that are available for
our young life scientists as they go through their careers.
In
addition to that, over the next two years the McGowan government will invest
$16.75 million to enhance the capability and capacity of WA's
space sector. Many members will be aware of the great talent, skills and
capability coming out of our resources sector, particularly oil and gas, in
robotics and autonomous vehicles to make
sure that we can not only fix a gas pipeline 200 metres below the surface of
the water, but also drive robots on
the moon and Mars, and beyond. This represents a huge opportunity for Western Australia.
We could become the space capital of Australia by utilising the incredible
expertise and capacity that we have in our workforce here.
The funding announcement we made
yesterday commits $2.5 million to Curtin University's Binar space program. This will enable Western Australian
startups and small and medium–sized enterprises to test their
technology in space for commercialisation as well as for training students in
the development, testing and operation of
spacecraft. This funding will enable the program to retain existing expertise
and develop a new and highly skilled workforce through the manufacture
and launch of three Binar spacecraft each year over the next three years. This
is an extraordinary opportunity. In addition, $4 million will be recommitted to
Australian Remote Operations in Space and on
Earth, a Perth-headquartered industry-led consortium at the forefront of
knowledge and technology transfer between Australia's traditional
industry sectors and the international space sector.
Diversifying the Western Australian
economy is a key economic policy of the McGowan government. Space, and medical
and life sciences represent two vital sectors of our economy. We look forward
to growing them and we look forward to growing the jobs that go with those
sectors.