Gallop to be Labor Minister for Science

WA Labor leader, Doctor Geoff Gallop, has announced he would be the Minister for Science under a Labor Government. Dr Gallop made this statement at the official unveiling of Labor's 'Innovate WA' policy.

Under the $50 million strategy, the party would establish a new Premier's Science Council. Also, the strategy promises to: promote science in schools and provide scholarships for science teachers; to expand the Sci-Tech discovery centre; provide state scholarships for postgraduate study in WA universities; provide science and technology fellowships and research grants to the TAFE colleges and independent colleges; give grants to firms to engage in graduate and specific research and development related projects; and to give dollar for dollar support for successful applications for Commonwealth research grants.

Dr Gallop says the policy is designed to strengthen the long-term economic competitiveness by establishing WA as a global leader for science and research.

"We [Labor] want to push science, we want to make sure that at the top levels of government in Western Australia science is being advocated, co-ordinated and pushed right throughout our system," Dr Gallop said. "So my decision to be Science Minister is a statement of the importance that I'm giving to this issue as part of the new Labor government."