Carpenter backs up biotech pledge

Premier Alan Carpenter has put some substance to his declared support for the technology sector, announcing today he would travel to the United States to attend Bio 2006, the world's largest biotech industry conference and exhibition.

This marks a significant step for Western Australia because former premier Geoff Gallop never attended the annual event but his counterparts in Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and NSW have all attended.

Mr Carpenter also announced today $4.5 million in seed funding for the Centre for Food and Genomic Medicine, to be based at the WA Institute for Medical Research on the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital campus.
He said the funding was part of the State Government's commitment to developing the biotechnology, innovation, research and development and emerging technology sectors.
"Science and innovation are key drivers of the global economy and are vital to ensure continued economic growth and diversification in WA," he said.
"The funding boost is a strategic investment aimed at building on WA's science and innovation excellence across some of the fastest-growing and most important industries in the world." "Speaking at a CEDA lunch today, Mr Carpenter said he hoping to convince WA scientist and Nobel Prize winner Professor Barry Marshall to attend the biotech event with him.

Mr Carpenter has attended similar events in his capacity as state development minister, and his ministerial predecessor Clive Brown also attended similar events

On the topic of industrial relations, Mr Carpenter dashed any thoughts that he may push for a more deregulatory stance in Western Australia in line with federal reforms.

"In relation to industrial relations decisions, I've got a very clear view.

"I support the position that Geoff (Gallop) has delivered.

"I understand the theoretical desirability of having maximum flexibility but I also understand that you need to guarantee people are going to be fairly rewarded and work in safe conditions.

"I don't want to see an erosion, gradual it may be, of an individual person's capacity to have them looked after.

"Now that's where I see the value of the union movement. They can represent individuals who would otherwise have no power to represent themselves."

"We need to maintain the balance."

Mr Carpenter also said he did not like the idea of setting up a 'future fund' that would retain money for the benefit of future generations.

"It's not a model that I am attracted to, for this reason," he said.

"I don't see the benefit of putting aside money for some time in the future.

"What we need to do, to get the same result, is invest now, in our infrastructure and our education institutions. That's the way to do it."

"These things take time (and) it delivers the benefit over the horizon."

The full announcement appears below:

16/02/06

New world-class research centre to target diabetes and obesity.

Diabetes and obesity will be the first target of a new world-class research facility to be established in Western Australia.

Premier Alan Carpenter today announced $4.5million in seed funding for the Centre for Food and Genomic Medicine, to be based at the WA Institute for Medical Research on the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital campus.

Mr Carpenter said the funding was part of the State Government's commitment to developing the biotechnology, innovation, research and development and emerging technology sectors.

"Science and innovation are key drivers of the global economy and are vital to ensure continued economic growth and diversification in WA," Mr Carpenter said.

"The funding boost is a strategic investment aimed at building on WA's science and innovation excellence across some of the fastest-growing and most important industries in the world today."

Mr Carpenter said the centre would bring scientists together from across biotechnology, agriculture and food technology to develop new approaches to the prevention and treatment of major health issues.

"The research to be undertaken at the new centre will lead to new technology and products which will greatly enhance the health of our population," he said.

"The centre will also generate wealth through partnerships with the food and pharmaceutical industries to deliver these new technologies to the domestic and international markets."

The centre will initially focus on a program of biomedical and agri-food research into diabetes and obesity, which together are termed 'Diabesity'.

"The Diabesity Research Program will use cutting edge techniques and equipment to identify novel markers of diabesity and build them into new diagnostic tests," the Premier said.

"On the preventative side, the program will focus on the development of new food products and therapies using plant extracts with the power to reduce appetite."

Mr Carpenter said other partners in the centre were CSIRO Plant Industry, the WA Department of Agriculture, the University of Western Australia, and Curtin and Murdoch universities.

Additional State Government investments in the science and innovation sectors include:

- $100million through the Innovate WA policy, $45million of which has been invested through the Major Research Facility Program to develop international class research centres, supported by significant co-funding from industry;
- More than $40million through the Centres of Excellence program over five years from 2005-06 to fund centres, in partnership with industry and academic institutions, in research areas with significant benefits to Western Australia. The centres will provide strong career opportunities for highly skilled researchers to build on the State's strengths in science and innovation; and
- Initiatives to enhance science education in WA including the provision of funding support to attract physics, maths and chemistry graduates to careers in teaching.

Media contact: Vanessa Joynt 9222 9475 Mobile: 0418 917 754
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