31 January 2001

INNOVATION - SA MUST DEMAND A SHARE

The innovation statement released yesterday, by the Prime Minister, goes part way to dealing with the decline in job creating Research and Development in Australia.

The Innovation Statement was released on the same day as the Australian Bureau of Statistics released a report that states that Australia has become one of the most unequal countries in the Western world. South Australians are losing ground, in income terms, to the rest of Australia.

UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide strongly supports research and innovation as one of very few proven strategies to overcome poverty and income disadvantage, over time.

"However, South Australia can very easily be left out from the benefits that should flow from the innovation statement" said Mark Henley, Senior Policy Officer.

"We call on the State Government to urgently respond with an "SA Innovation Strategy" which will include specific actions to ensure that SA capitalises on the Commonwealth's Innovation Statement. The State Government will also need to commit state resources to boosting innovation in SA. A core objective of this "SA Innovation Strategy" will need to be the generation of higher paying jobs, throughout SA regions, in the medium to long term," Mr Henley added.

For Further Comment
Mark Henley Senior Policy Officer	8202 5135 (w) 0404 067 011 (mob)