i-Voting
Source: New South Wales. Premier. Media Release.
"The Electoral Commissioner will investigate i-Voting for visually impaired people of New
South Wales improving their democratic right to a secret ballot. Nationally, there are 300,000 people who are blind or visually impaired with a third of them living in NSW.“We want to make sure as many people as possible participate equally in our democratic process – especially in the lead up to next year’s State election,” Ms Keneally said."

The NSW Government Statement on Innovation
Source: New South Wales. Minister for State and Regional Development. Media Release.
"The NSW Government Statement on Innovation outlines how the NSW Government plans to enhance industry innovation as a means of improving productivity and increasing business investment. This statement is based on a paper by Professor Jonathan West, a world expert in innovation and formerly Associate Professor at Harvard Business School, who was asked by the NSW Government to advise on an innovation strategy for NSW. "

$38M TO GET NEW TECHNOLOGIES WORKING FOR AUSTRALIA
Source: Australia. Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science & Research. Media Release
"The Rudd Government is introducing a comprehensive national framework to guide the safe development of new technologies such as nanotechnology and biotechnology as part of a $38.2 million National Enabling Technologies Strategy released today. The strategy is part of the Rudd Government’s $1.1 billion Super Science Initiative."

Draft Legislation Released for NBN Co Operations
Source: Australia. Minister for Finance and Deregulation and the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy. Joint Media Release.
The Rudd Government today released exposure drafts of legislation to establish a regulatory framework for the National Broadband Network company, NBN Co Limited. Exposure drafts of two bills were released:
National Broadband Network Companies Bill 2010 (sets out ownership, governance and sale arrangements for NBN Co.)
Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (National Broadband Network Measures – Access Arrangements) Bill 2010 (sets out the access arrangements for NBN Co that reflect its wholesale-only status.)
The Government proposes to introduce the bills into Parliament in the Autumn or Winter sittings depending on the feedback received.

INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE YIELDS BIOTECH JOBS BOOST
Source: Victoria. Premier. Media Release
"A new research alliance between the Victorian Government and Dow AgroSciences will create 30 new Victorian agricultural biotech jobs, the Premier John Brumby announced. Signing the research agreement with Dow in Melbourne, Mr Brumby said it was a major step forward in expanding the scope and scale of research Dow undertakes in Victoria.“This alliance further builds on Victoria’s biotechnology reputation and will assist Victorian farmers to meet the growing global demand for food,” Mr Brumby said. This agreement will accelerate and expand the alliance and development of improved plant traits, further cementing Victoria’s status as one of the top five biotechnology hubs in the world."

Successful National Science Week 2010 projects announced
Source: Australia. Prime Minister and Cabinet. Media Release.
"A modern forensics display, a science rock cabaret and a biodiversity study are among 38 innovative projects to share in $500,000 worth of Australian Government grants for National Science Week 2010. The Prime Minister and the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research announced the projects at Questacon today during a reception for Professor Elizabeth Blackburn, the first Australian woman to receive a Nobel Prize. National Science Week will be held between 14 and 22 August."

Nominate a science champion for PM's prizes for science
Source: Australia. Prime Minister and Cabinet. Media Release.
"Australians, while in the Olympic spirit, are encouraged to nominate their science champions for the 2010 Prime Minister's Prizes for Science. The Prime Minister's Prizes for Science are the most significant science prizes in Australia and a fitting tribute to the brilliant work done by our scientists and science teachers. In 2009, Dr John O'Sullivan received the Prime Minister's Prize for Science for his achievements in astronomy and wireless technologies."

Infrastructure strategy launched
Source: Tasmania. The Premier
"The Premier said that in developing the Strategy, there had been extensive input from business, community leaders, local government, transport, telecommunications, water, energy and other key stakeholders.
He said that the key priority areas were coordinated infrastructure planning, effective governance and decision-making, viable and sustainable infrastructure, efficient infrastructure delivery and levering Tasmania’s natural advantages to build the Tasmania of the future."

IBM ANNOUNCED AS PARTNER FOR VICTORIAN SUPERCOMPUTER
Source: Victoria. Premier. Media Release
"The Premier of Victoria John Brumby announced a significant collaboration with IBM to build the world’s most powerful supercomputer dedicated to life sciences research in Melbourne. Mr Brumby said the supercomputer, to be based at Melbourne University in Parkville would further boost Victoria’s reputation as a global centre for excellence in life sciences research. “The Victorian Life Sciences Computational Initiative (VLSCI) will provide Victoria’s researchers with the necessary tools to solve some of the biggest challenges facing our health system and impacting our quality of life,” Mr Brumby said.“The Victorian Government is taking action to support our world-class researchers and to invest in innovative projects that secure the state’s economy. That is why we have contributed $50 million towards the $100 million VLCSI with the University of Melbourne and IBM."

Queensland bid for smart grid dollars
Source: Queensland. Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy. Media Release
"A Queensland Government consortium has today launched a bid for $100 million in federal funds to build a demonstration smart electricity grid for Australia.
Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Stephen Robertson said Queensland’s demonstration grid would show how promising new technologies could be successfully applied to the Australian lifestyle, climate and geography. He said a sustainable future electricity industry would require better use of renewable energy sources and greater understanding of how we use energy. “The Queensland Smart Communities bid would incorporate renewable energy technologies into the electricity network, along with information technology that will help consumers make better-informed and smarter choices about their energy use,” Mr Robertson said. “New technologies include a solar thermal storage technology pilot, which captures heat from the sun and stores it for future electricity generation. “Another technology to be trialled is the coupling of solar photo-voltaics with applications that will fit them to modern power grids, proving their worth as a reliable source of clean, green energy,” he said."

Digital dividend green paper
Australia. Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy. Media Release.
"The Rudd Government today released a Government green paper seeking public comment on the benefits and costs of maximising Australia’s digital dividend. The ‘digital dividend’ is the term used to describe the radio-frequency spectrum made available up as a result of the switchover to digital-only television..."Releasing the digital dividend will be an important microeconomic reform that will boost productivity in the Australian economy by enabling new services and applications."The green paper establishes a Government target of 126 megahertz (MHz) of contiguous ultra-high frequency spectrum. Achieving this will involve moving some digital television services to new channels.The Government is committed to achieving a maximised digital dividend while maintaining Australians’ existing access to free-to-air digital television services. However, before making its final decision on the size and location of the digital dividend, the Government is inviting comments on the benefits and costs to the Australian community and economy of realising its target."I encourage all interested parties to access the green paper and provide comments by the 26 February deadline," Senator Conroy said."

GM choice for WA canola growers
Source: Western Australia. Premier. Minister for Agriculture and Food
"The State Government today announced genetically modified (GM) canola could from this year onwards be grown in Western Australia. Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman has approved an exemption order under the Genetically Modified Crops Free Areas Act 2003 to permit the cultivation of GM canola, which will offer growers added choice in their cropping systems. This decision brings WA in line with the other major grain-growing States, New South Wales and Victoria, where growers have been able to grow GM canola commercially since 2008."

New R&D Tax Credit - Exposure Draft Legislation
Source: Australia. Treasurer. Media release
"The Rudd Government today released draft legislation for the new R&D Tax Credit — the biggest reform to business innovation policy in over a decade.
The draft legislation follows through on the Government's commitment to deliver a more generous, more predictable, and less complex tax incentive by replacing the outdated and complicated R&D Tax Concession."

$64M FOR FUND MANAGERS TO HELP START-UPS GROW
Source: Australia. Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. Media release
"Eleven fund managers will distribute a total of $64 million in government funding to assist 35 early stage companies to continue developing and commercialising their innovative technologies.
Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, today announced that the fund managers had signed funding agreements under the Australian Government’s Innovation Investment Follow-on Fund (IIFF) program."

$130M FOR SEVEN CRCs TO ADDRESS INNOVATION PRIORITIES
Source: Australia. Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. Media release
"Seven Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) addressing high priorities such as biotechnology, mining and remote community economics have been granted $130 million in funding in the CRC Program’s latest selection round."

MANUFACTURING AND SOCIAL INNOVATION TO BE RESEARCH PRIORITIES: 2010 CRC Program selection round opens
Source: Australia. Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. Media release
"The 2010 Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program selection round opened today, with a key focus on manufacturing and social innovation."

$50 MILLION BIONIC EYE RESEARCH PROJECTS ANNOUNCED
Source: Australia. Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. Media release
"The Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, today announced that two outstanding research teams will share in funding of $50 million to develop a bionic eye."

$44M TROPICAL INNOVATION HUB FOR CAIRNS
Source: Australia. Minister for Innovation. Media Release
"A $44 million world-class institute dedicated to research and innovation for tropical Australia will be built in Cairns.
The Rudd Government will provide $19.5 million in capital costs to develop the Cairns Institute – Tropical Innovation Hub and will contribute a further $8.75 million for research infrastructure. The institute will be located at James Cook University’s Cairns Campus, which will contribute a further $15.8 million."

NATIONAL INNOVATION PRINCIPLES ADOPTED
Source: Australia. Minister for Innovation. Media Release
"Federal, State and Territory Innovation Ministers for the first time adopted a set of national innovation principles at a meeting in Melbourne today – to guide policy development and increase the consistency of government innovation programs across Australia.
“This is a real first for national innovation policy, and a vivid demonstration of governments working together to make all Australian innovation programs efficient and accessible,” said Australian Innovation Minister, Senator Kim Carr about the release of the Framework of Principles for Innovation Initiatives."

$30M TO SUPPORT RESEARCH COLLABORATION
Source: Australia. Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. Media Release
"The Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, today announced that 71 research projects will share more than $30 million in funding under the Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) scheme."