The Gillard Government has slashed over $33 million in funding from Cooperative Research Centres putting their future at risk according to The Nationals Senator for New South Wales John Williams.

Senator Williams said the worst fears of the 42 CRC have been realised with $33.4 million to be redirected over the next four years which puts programs in jeopardy.

He said it is amazing that in 2008 the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Kim Carr, commissioned a review of the CRC Program, and that Review called for an increase in total funding and a glowing report on their work and benefits to the wider community.

“Like all the reviews commissioned by Labor, it just wasted time and effort because there was no intention to implement the recommendations.

Minister Carr has ignored the report that he himself asked for. How much this process cost is anyone’s guess.

The Howard Government had funded 70 CRC but this number has fallen to 42 under Labor. There is every likelihood there will be even fewer now that Minister Carr is cutting the heart out of the Program.

Labor is more intent on giving money to unions to build websites and pouring billions into its failed border protection policy than investing in research that lays the foundation for Australia’s innovation future”, Senator Williams said.