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Published online 19 May 2009 | 459, 304-305 (2009) | doi:10.1038/459304a
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Sunny outlook for Australian science
Research programmes win big in budget, but critics say environment is 'overlooked'.
SYDNEY
An unexpected funding boost has left many Australian scientists in a positive frame of mind after federal treasurer Wayne Swan delivered a budget last week that raised research and education expenditure by almost 25% over the previous year's spending (see graph).
The budget, presented to parliament on 12 May, features a raft of research-related spending measures, including funding reform for universities and an overhaul of tax arrangements for private-sector research and development (R&D) that had been recommended by recent government reviews of innovation and higher education.
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I feel Swan's proposed increased expenditure in scientific research is reflective upon Australia's requirement to 'catch up' with the rest of the worlds research powerhouses. We have been gradually slipping behind in the research stakes in recent decades so this funding is well and truly overdue. Lets hope this swings Australia's 'brain drain' to a 'brain gain'!