Welcome to FASTS.

We represent the interests of some 60,000 Australian scientists and technologists.FASTS works to influence science and technology policy for the economic, environmental and social benefit of Australia.

What's New

Media release: Australia to remain 'carbon obese'

There is a serious disconnect between the target's of the Government's Carbon Pollution Reduction scheme and its stated intent to stabilise emissions at 450ppm. As the world's highest per capita emitter, Australia is 'carbon obese' with far greater capacity to reduce reductions than the seriously inadequate 5% unilateral target.

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Speech: Ken Baldwin, Address to the Australian Institute of Physics (AIP)  Congress (3 Dec)

What is the role of science societies? Do scientists need new models of self-organisation in the light of globalisation and changing funding, policy and structures?

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Media release: Research Agency Charters recognise the necessity of independent public science (18 November) 

The Government has honoured its election commitment to provide a charter for CSIRO and other public sector research agencies to protect them from political interference. 

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Submission: FASTS Submission to Senate Standing Committee on Environment, Communications and the Arts inquiry into the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management (Repeal and Consequential Amendment) Bill 2008 (3 November)

FASTS supports repeal of the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act 2005 but only when a site for a radioactive waste facility is agreed upon. Since 1992 successive Commonwealth Governments have recognised the need for a permanent storage facility. Further delay is unacceptable. Australia must take responsibility for is own radioactive waste.

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Media Release: National R&D expenditure cuts through the 2% GDP barrier (21 October)

Strong growth in business and higher education R&D has lifted Australia's gross expenditure on R&D to just over 2% of GDP for the first time. However we cannot be complacent, we are still behind OECD averages and there is plenty of work to be done on policy settings for knowledge transfer, inter-sector mobility and demand-side capabilities of Governments. 

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Submission: FASTS comments on VenturousAustralia - the Review of the National Innovation System (October 2008)

FASTS broadly supports the Review's recommendations and believes that implementing the full economic costs of research and a comprehensive package to support industry R&D and innovation are the key priorities.

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Submission: FASTS Submission to the Defence White Paper (1 October)

FASTS argues there needs to be greater attention to a) developing linkages between the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) and external science and research organisations and b) benchmarking of defence science with the wider scientific community to ensure high quality in-house capabilities.    

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Media Release: FASTS welcomes appointment of Professor Penny Sackett as Chief Scientist (30 September)

Professor Sackett has a wealth of experience managing complex international science projects and that perspective will be invaluable as Australian science and research policy needs to focus a great deal more on global collaboration and mobility.  

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Opinion: Ken Baldwin, FASTS on the CRC review, Australian R&D Review, (September)

Article outlines FASTS response to the CRC review. Shift to end-user driven limited-life centres will help to refocus this iconic program.

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FASTS Policy Statement: Statement on Climate Change (4 September 2008)

Global Climate change is real and measurable. However there is real concern in the scientific community that argy-bargy over an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) is diverting attention from the real challenge of becoming a low carbon economy. An ETS is a means not an end especially when it is not connected to any targets.

Download media release and the Statement on Climate Change 

This paper summarises key issues arising from the FASTS forum and subsequent discussions on rights and responsibilities (obligations) of scientists and the independence of science and research agencies.

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