Knowledge Nation attacked

Senator Richard Alston has launched an attack on the Opposition's Knowledge Nation, claiming Kim Beazley's statement on the first 100 days was "yet another low grade publicity stunt that promises more bureaucratic talkfests but provides no details on what this window dressing will achieve.

The Minister for Communication, IT and the Arts said an examination of Beazley's 'noodle nation' statement showed it deserved a 'ticker tape' parade - no ticker and full of red tape. "Beazley proposes a raft of committees, talkfests and meetings but his statement has no commitment to outcomes in the important areas of innovation, research and the information economy," Senator Alston said.

"Rather than indulging in such prolix pastimes, Mr Beazley would better serve Australia if he signed on to the $2.9 billion of initiatives contained within the Government's Backing Australia's Ability innovation package."