MINISTERIAL STATEMENT: National Science Week

Hon. MAJ SCANLON (Gaven—ALP) (Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef
and Minister for Science and Youth Affairs) (10.05 am):

This National Science Week I want to thank and acknowledge the incredible minds that we have across this state, from the over 300 scientists in my department to those in universities and industry—nation-leading educators like Megan Hayes, who I met last week, school students like those I met at Upper Coomera State College participating in Sisters in STEM through to the impressive young First Nations women at Trinity Bay State High School in North Queensland. Queensland is no stranger to scientific excellence. We are the home of pioneering discoveries and advancements like the HPV vaccine created by Dr Ian Frazer.

The Palaszczuk government knows that investing in science means good jobs, better services
and a great lifestyle. This is why last month I announced we were investing $17 million to partner with
local universities and industry to support researchers to further commercialise and scale up their work.
In particular, we want to ensure regional Queensland is getting the benefit of commercialisation, which
is why we have provided this dedicated funding. I recently saw the success of this sort of work in action
at QUT, where their research is being used to create Logan based company BlockTexx, who are using
science to recycle more than 50,000 tonnes of old textiles. Our scientists are among the best in the
world across a range of disciplines including environment, health, medical technology and
biotechnology.

Since 2019, 10 Queensland research facilities have been awarded funding to purchase
cutting-edge equipment and facilities. In fact, the other week I had the pleasure of visiting Griffith
University, where we have provided $1.8 million to help establish Compounds Australia—the nation’s
only dedicated biodiscovery management facility. That facility will now help to develop effective
disease-targeting drugs sooner to help treat diseases like HIV, malaria and cancer. I am pleased to say
that this support will also continue as part of our newly announced innovation road map, announced
last month by the Minister for Innovation and the Premier. It is this side of the House that backs science,
and I acknowledge all of the incredible scientists across our state for the amazing work they do.