Govt calls in expert biotech advice

A new council has been established to advise the Commonwealth government on priority issues in biotechnology, including R&D, international links, commercialisation, public interest and ethics.

Its chair, Prof John Hearn, who is deputy vice-chancellor (research) at ANU, said the agenda and priorities would be worked out when it first met on April 9.

"This is a most effective strategy to put Australian science ahead and to bring Australian innovations to commercialisation a lot faster," he told Australian Biotechnology News.

"It's a new government approach where the committee will have immediate dialogue with ministers and the departments in government. It's very exciting.

"Many members of the new advisory council were on the consultative group for Biotechnology Australia, so there is a take-off from an existing platform."

Apart from Hearn, the council includes:

• Dr Ken Reed, research director, Benitec Australia, Qld
• Prof John Shine, executive director, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, NSW
• Prof Richard Wettenhall, director, Bio21, Vic
• Dr Deborah Rathjen, CEO, Bionomics, SA
• Dr Julia Playford, director, Conservation Services, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Qld
• Hugh Roberts, head, NSW Farmers Federation Biotechnology Committee, NSW
• Prof Peter Andrews, co-director, Institute of Molecular Bioscience, QLD
• Colin Armit, president, pharmaceutical group, CSL, Vic