CARR SLAMMED BY HIS OWN INNOVATION ADVISER
10-November-2010
10 November 2010
‘Dismal’, ‘disembodied’ and ‘hostile’
Kim Carr’s credibility as a Minister in the Gillard Government is in tatters after his premier expert on innovation launched a withering critique of his record in the portfolio.
Terry Cutler (who Mr Carr handpicked in 2008 to head the Government’s review of the National Innovation System) has attacked the Minister’s inaction and singular lack of achievement in an article titled “the dearth and decline of innovation”. Source: Crikey, ‘Terry Cutler: the dearth and decline of innovation’, 8 November 2010.
As part of his scathing review of the state of Australian innovation, Mr Cutler has stated that:
· a “dismal silence” now surrounds the Gillard Government’s approach and “dust accumulates” on his review report;
· “good policy design has remained more observed in the preaching than the practice”;
· the Government’s attitude to R&D policy resembles “disembodied theory” and an attempt to “strangle (the current R&D tax incentive system) with even more bureaucratic red tape and a hostile narrowing of eligibility criteria”; and
· “several smaller and resource-based economies (are) doing a much better job” in the field of innovation than Australia.
Condemnation of Mr Carr’s performance as Minister has been particularly widespread in the wake of his misguided attempts to cut funding to the two principal measures of Government support for innovation in Australia – in the areas of commercialisation and R&D.
His insistence on the doomed tactic of ‘picking winners’, addiction to spending billions of dollars on misdirected industry assistance, and intolerance of criticism from well-intentioned stakeholders has also won him few plaudits.
However, until now, his large circle of critics has not extended to include the very individual appointed to shape the direction of his innovation agenda.