 | HEALTHY FUTURES: $230 MILLION LIFE SCIENCE PACKAGE TO BOOST VICTORIA’S HEALTHY FUTURE
A $230 million package to strengthen Victoria’s world-class medical research facilities, improve the health of Victorians and create new industries and jobs was released by the Bracks Government today.
The Premier, Steve Bracks, joined Minister for Innovation, John Brumby, and Health Minister, Bronwyn Pike, to unveil Healthy Futures at the recently redeveloped Austin Hospital in Heidelberg.
Mr Bracks said the wide-ranging package of initiatives would encourage further medical research in Victoria leading to the development of new medicines and new approaches to treatment to improve the lives of all Victorians.
“We all know someone who could have benefited from new treatments and the development of new medicines. Healthy Futures offers them hope while strengthening Victoria’s research and science sectors,” Mr Bracks said.
“Victoria has a long history of excellence in medical research, underpinned by internationally recognised research institutes, hospitals and skilled workforce.
“A large part of this has come through a $1.6 billion of investment by the Bracks Government over the past six years into building our innovation capabilities, funding vital research, developing infrastructure including the Australian Synchrotron project, Bio21 and the Australian Stem Cell Centre.
“We want to build on this existing international reputation of excellence which is why as part of Healthy Futures we are investing in new medical research infrastructure.
“Healthy Futures is an action plan that will help our scientists and researchers make the next great breakthrough in the treatment of major diseases, such as cancer or Alzheimer’s.
“There is no reason why the next great discovery cannot be made here in Victoria.
“Our $230 million investment will trigger $713 million in funding to support medical research and ensure Victorian discoveries and breakthroughs make the transition from the laboratory into new medicines and treatments benefiting all Victorians now and into the future.”
Mr Bracks said Healthy Futures would:
· Ensure Victoria strengthens its reputation as a world-class medical research location, leading to new medicines and approaches to treatment and bettering the lives of all Victorians;
Continue to attract the best researchers and health workers to Victoria;
· Drive a stronger economy with medical research allowing our community to better meet challenges presented by an aging population;
· Give Victorian industry a greater competitive edge on the global stage;
· Attract greater levels of overseas investment, resulting in jobs and exports; and,
· Provide spin-offs for other Victorian businesses.
Mr Brumby said the Healthy Futures package recognised the enormous contribution the life sciences sector will make to Victoria’s future by boosting economic growth and creating high value jobs as well as continue to attract the best researchers to the State.
Mr Bracks and Mr Brumby will again lead a delegation of more than 130 leading scientists, CEOs and venture capitalists discuss projects and programs with some of the 17,000 delegates from 60 countries expected to attend BIO2006, the world’s biggest biotechnology conference, held this year in Chicago.
“The Bracks Government wants to make Victoria one of the top five global biotechnology locations in the world by 2010,” Mr Brumby said.
“As the biological revolution picks up pace and governments around the world invest heavily in this sector, so to does competition from other countries.
“If we fail to build on existing strengths, Victoria risks missing out on new investments, jobs and losing our lead in many areas leaving us dependent on overseas discoveries and treatments.
“Victoria must continue to champion our existing life sciences sector and make sure it has the capacity to under take the next step which is why the Bracks Government has taken leadership in this area.
“The $230 million Healthy Futures statement heralds an exciting new era of investment and achievement in the life sciences.”
The Healthy Futures statement includes:
· $53 million to develop one of the world’s largest neurosciences and mental health centres with the establishment of a new Australian Centre for Neuroscience and Mental Health Research, integrating four leading institutes;
· $35 million for a new Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute;
· $16 million for a new ‘Super Institute’ for infectious diseases via the merger of the Austin Research Institute and the Burnet Institute;
· $50 million to support the $130 million expansion of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute;
· $30 million to support additional undergraduate medical places, particularly in regional areas, to address medical practitioner skills shortages;
· $15 million for a new Victorian Cancer Agency;
· $21 million to establish the Australian Cancer Grid project and create new e-Research Centres;
· $9.2 million for new research infrastructure at Austin Health;
· $250,000 to make Victoria a more attractive location for clinical trials; and
$1 million to support an industry partnership to establish a new bioprocessing facility in Victoria.
Media Release Attachment - 060404 Life Sciences main.doc [Word, 49152 Bytes]
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