Let the light shine in

Victoria's new premier, John Brumby, today officially opened the Australian Synchrotron at Clayton, heralding a new era for scientific research in Australia.

Brumby, who along with former premier Steve Bracks was a driving force behind planning and funding the Australian Synchrotron, said the new facility meant Australian science could expand into new areas.

"Now that this project is up and running an extra $110 million a year is expected to flow into to the national economy, creating an extra 2500 direct and indirect jobs," Brumby said.

He said the synchrotron was the most significant scientific project built in Australia for at least 20 years and marked a new era of national collaboration in science and technology.

Five state governments, the Australian and the New Zealand governments, 25 Australian universities, CSIRO, ANSTO and other research institutions have come together to fund $220 million facility.

Brumby said scientists had submitted a number of applications to use the facility which were currently being assessed by a panel of experts.

"The Synchrotron is ready for business and soon Australia's best and brightest researchers will be able to benefit from using one of the top ten synchrotrons in the world.

Dr Jeff Church from CSIRO plans to use the synchrotron to combat the Devil Facial Tumour Disease.

"Only synchrotron light is powerful enough to detect minute changes in hair composition and an infrared beamline in Melbourne instead of 20 hours' flight away makes this research possible," Church said.

"We hope to use the synchrotron to help develop a quick, inexpensive diagnostic test that can be carried out on captured animals in the field."

Brumby also announced that Catherine Walter would chair the Australian Synchrotron Company, which will oversee operation and development of facility.

She is currently chairman of Equipsuper, a director of Orica, James Hardie, Australian Foundation Investment Company, Melbourne Business School and Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research.