The Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, today announced the Australian Government’s continued funding support of $507.9 million over the next four financial years for the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation.
Significantly, this funding will now be confirmed in a four year Funding Agreement, rather than the previous funding guarantees for three year periods only.
Minister Bishop said the increase to four years will provide ANSTO with an even more stable financial environment that will permit longer-term planning of resource management and scientific research programs, particularly long term research.
“The change will also support the organisation’s efforts to recruit 15 Australian graduates each year from 2008 under the recently announced ANSTO Graduate Programme,” she said.
“This four year career development program offers a unique opportunity to develop a solid career in the growing nuclear industry.”
ANSTO is Australia’s national nuclear research and development organisation and the centre of Australian nuclear expertise conducting research into the environment, materials, nuclear imaging and other health care products.
ANSTO also provides 70 per cent of all radioisotopes used in Australian nuclear medicine, to treat more than 500,000 people each year who are suffering from cancer and other conditions.
The new OPAL research reactor, to be fully operational in early 2007, has recently demonstrated its research capability using cutting edge scientific instruments to investigate a range of areas including advanced building and motor vehicle materials, and also new drug compounds.
“Australia will have one of the top neutron beam research facilities in the world, when this facility comes on line,” Minister Bishop said.