Academy says funding cuts risk Australia’s future

The Australian Academy of Science has warned that further cuts to science funding in the 2015 federal budget risk undermining the country’s economy and future prosperity.

The organisation’s president, Andrew Holmes said analysis of the budget showed that despite a temporary funding reprieve for some research agencies, “deep cuts of around $290 million to key Australian science and research programmes lie on the horizon.”

South Australian independent senator Nick Xenophon told reporters that the government’s focus on a $5.5 billion package for small business pointed to a pre-election budget.