canberra

Victoria has become the first of Australia's six states to develop a science and technology strategy that is independent of federal government policy.

The state premier, Jeff Kennett, has established a 19-member science, engineering and technology taskforce which he will co-chair with Adrienne Clarke, a plant cell biologist at the University of Melbourne. Clarke is a former chairman of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, and was recently made Lieutenant Governor of Victoria with a unique brief to promote science in the state (see Nature 387, 447; 447 1997).

As part of the drive, Victoria has also created the post of Principal Advisor for Science and Engineering, which has been taken by Margaret Britz, a food microbiologist from the Victoria University of Technology.

The commitment to developing an independent science policy contrasts with the approach of the federal government which has been criticized for indecisive-ness over research during its 18 months in office.

Victoria is Australia's second most populous state and the most industrialized, with A$33 billion (US$24 billion) — or 30 per cent of its gross product — being generated from science and technology. Mark Birrell, the Victorian minister responsible for science, says his prime aim is to improve the business environment for research and development, a popular move among industry leaders who are openly frustrated by adverse actions of the federal government.

Although some new projects have been announced at modest levels of funding, the key to Victoria's future scientific success will be its capacity to finance substantial long-term programmes. All states have long felt frustrated by their dependence on taxes collected federally. Victoria has gone further than others in breaking away from subordination to Canberra by generating significant revenues from gambling in a vast new casino and from privatization of public utilities. Both of these moves are controversially promoted by Kennett.

In a statement launching the initiative, Kennett said its success “will depend on progressive Commonwealth reform of funding in areas such as taxation, research and development funding opportunities and intellectual property law”. This is seen as a criticism of the federal government's recent science funding cuts.