Abbott must act to save Australian research jobs: Greens
Responding today to news that 2000 Australian researchers could lose their jobs in the next year, Greens Deputy Leader and spokesperson on science, research and innovation, Adam Bandt, called on Prime Minister Tony Abbott to urgently intervene to prevent this 'brain drain'.
"With Tony Abbott cutting investment in science, research and innovation to a 30-year low, highly-skilled Australian jobs are under threat," Mr Bandt said.
"We're already seeing a brain drain of some of our best and brightest heading to jobs overseas. Without intervention, this will only increase.
"Last week, the government attempted to blackmail crossbench Senators by linking investment in research to the Higher Education reform bill.
"Instead of threatening to further cut research investment to try and ram their unfair changes to Higher Ed through the Senate, Tony Abbott and his government need to immediately increase investment into research organisations, like the NHMRC."
"This will increase research jobs in Australia, lead to ground-breaking discoveries and boost economic growth."
Media contact: Adam Pulford, 0429 109 054