12 May 2021
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With the Australian economy having weathered the last 14 months incredibly well notwithstanding continued global economic, political and public health uncertainty, Budget 2021 is seeking to manage an increasingly complex dichotomy: how does Australia enhance our reputation as a country which is innovation friendly , focused on business prosperity, and welcoming to global human capital, while at the same time keeping our international borders closed for the foreseeable future?
In this Budget, the Government is looking to send a message that it is capable of managing this dichotomy effectively through a series of tax measures designed to:
Statement in response to the 2021-22 Federal Budget
There is no change to appropriation funding for CSIRO, following the Government’s additional funding commitment in October’s budget of $459 million over four years, to address any reduction to CSIRO’s external revenue resulting from the impact of COVID-19.
There are, however, a number of new initiatives that CSIRO will be central to:
A Digital Economy Strategy investment of $1.2 billion covering a range of measures including:
An investment of $53.8 million over four years to create the National Artificial Intelligence Centre that will drive business adoption of AI technologies by coordinating Australia’s AI expertise and capabilities. CSIRO will be managing the Centre.
Drones and Aviation Tech Just Scored A $32.6 Million Federal Budget Boost
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Image: Getty Images
The Australian government has pledged $32.6 million of support for aviation technologies like drones in the latest budget. In addition to a funding boost, drones will also become a major focus of new security efforts via the development of the National Drone Detection Network, a new system designed to detect drone activity around airports and sensitive locations.
In the newly released Digital Economy Strategy paper, the government outlines the significant security risks associated with new high-tech drones, but also makes clear they’re essential for the future of Australia. It will continue to support the development and advancement of environmentally-friendly drone technologies across Australia in an effort to forge better strategic partnerships with local industries and communities.