SA: Labor to boost business spending on research

AAP General News (Australia)
04-19-2000
SA: Labor to boost business spending on research

ADELAIDE, April 19 AAP - The federal Labor opposition wants to boost business spending
on research and development but will not release details of its strategy until closer
to the next election.

At a business function in Adelaide today, opposition industry and technology spokesman
Bob McMullan committed a future Labor government to an increase in spending to match world
levels.

Mr McMullan said OECD figures showed the average business spending on research and
development among OECD countries was 1.27 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP).

But he said in Australia it was significantly lower at 0.72 per cent.

"A Labor government will commit to a target of reaching the OECD average by 2010,"

Mr McMullan said.

"The details of how this will be achieved will be outlined before the next election.

"I am currently engaged in discussions with business, unions and academics to develop
the elements of the first three-year package of measures to fulfil this commitment."

Mr McMullan said the federal government had gone into hiding on the issue of research
spending while presiding over a disgraceful decline in its value.

He said in 1995-96 business spending on research and development was $4.34 billion.

By 1997-98 it had fallen to $4 billion and was expected to dip to $3.65 billion when
the 1998-99 were released.

AAP tjd/jtb

KEYWORD: RESEARCH

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