In his first speech as Industry and Science minister, Dan Husic said science is in his job title and “innovation” isn’t, is because, “we’re putting science back at the forefront”

“We are listening to the science, we’re respecting the science, we’re acting on the science … this is the signal that we wanted to send,” Mr Husic told a Science and Technology Australia dinner, late last week.

“But I need, also, your guidance and advice … you have got to charge me up.”

The minister set out specifics on the government’s agenda, including;

* “a critical technology sub fund” for the proposed $15bn National Reconstruction Fund, to support quantum, AI and robotics

* $1.5bn for medical manufacturing

* a “tweak” of HECS to provide students with $11 000 in capital, “to potentially create 2000 new firms through our university accelerators and incubators.”

Mr Husic also emphasised technology application, stating Australia need to be “a maker” not “a taker” and pointing to the vision of the Hawke Government and mentioning its creation of the Cooperative Research Centre programme.

“What we’re saying to you is, we want to be able to get the edge, because we’ve got other nations that we’re competing against. So, this is going to be really important for us to find that edge and we want to start that process and work with you on it,” he said.