The Australian Democrats are maintaining pressure on the federal government over Australia's position in the information age.
In a week or so, the government is expected to respond to the Chief Scientist's and Innovation Summit Implementation Group reports.
Both papers focus on science, engineering and technology, providing an opportunity for the Howard Government to reposition Australia in respect to the global knowledge economy.
Democrats Senator Natasha Stott-Despoja says despite the prevailing 'knowledge nation' rhetoric, all areas have suffered under successive governments.
"What is required is not onlly an understanding from legislators about the role of digital technology but a commitment to repositioning our role in the global knowledge economy and a marrying of sound information and educational policy with information technology," she said.
"Plans for reforming Australia's research management remain flawed as a result of the government's refusal to accept the need for major additional investment - both through direct allocation and incentives to industry - in Australia's research base."
The Research White Paper says the level of Australia's research funding compares well with other OECD countries - which Stott-Despoja describes as "flawed, based as it is, on out-of-date figures".
Stott-Despoja points out that the data used in the government's White Paper relates to 1997 or earlier, which omits the substantial boost which has occurred in R&D in the past two years by OECD countries.
Education, R&D
"Adequate resourcing of education and research and development is the only way Australia will manage the shift from an industrial society to an information society," Despoja said.
Nonetheless, the high-profile Senator managed to lighten things up at this week's Information Online 2001 Conference in Sydney.
"Bill Gates once pointed out that had the automotive industry made the same advancements as the computer industry, we would be driving cars that got 10,000 miles to the gallon.
"Representatives of the automotive industry quickly shot back that most cars don't crash twice a day and we don't have to buy a new car everytime they repaint the roads."
