Catriona “the message, whole message and nothing but the message” Jackson is off to the UK this week for “high level talks,” including a conference. This gives the Universities Australia CEO an opportunity to point out that while the Brits are in Brexit-bother the UK government is still, “forging ahead of Australia on R&D investment.”

“Research is vital to create the future jobs and industries we will all rely on. But the most recent figures show that business investment in R&D has gone backwards in Australia for the first time in almost two decades,” she says.

Ms Jackson could get references on funding for research into a bebop cantata of Beowulf.