AusBiotech positive about working with Julia Gillard

Peak industry body AusBiotech said today that it was confident of working with new prime minister Julia Gillard to develop a more effective legislative framework for the Australian biotechnology industry.

A key priority it said was resolving the issue of the R&D Tax Cedit bill, the passage of which has been delayed by the federal opposition in the senate.

“It is very important to note that all industry parties, in principle, support a credit rather than a concession – and see it as a fairer system – and we remain hopeful that the legislation will be able to be passed to deliver much-needed support to small innovative biotechnology companies,” said AusBiotech CEO Dr Anna Lavelle.

Currently the two bills under consideration have support from independent senator Nick Xenophon as well as the greens and are currently short on just one vote.

Innovation minister Kim Carr last week reaffirmed the government’s resolve to have the legislation apply from July 1 this year, provided it is passed after parliament resumes in August.