Menzies staff and students attend urgent funding briefing
Menzies staff and students attend urgent funding briefing
Staff and students at the Menzies Research Institute Tasmania attended an urgent briefing in Hobart today, following revelations the Federal Government is poised to cut up to 50 per cent of funding for Menzies in the May Budget.
Staff and students at the Menzies Research Institute Tasmania attended an urgent briefing in Hobart today, following revelations the Federal Government is poised to cut up to 50 per cent of funding for Menzies in the May Budget.
The briefing focussed on two critical issues - the impact of the cuts on research into life-threatening diseases and the interruption and loss of vital medical research findings and expertise from the State.
If the cuts go ahead, Menzies will potentially see the loss of 150 medical research jobs in Tasmania and around 50 per cent ($10 million) of its current budget each year.
Menzies Director Professor Simon Foote said many of the Institute's critical research projects would be slowed or completely stopped as a consequence.
"This will mean that people living with diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, asthma, dementia, Alzheimer's and multiple sclerosis will face the loss of vital research that could save their lives," Professor Foote said.
"Further, Menzies will no longer have the capacity to teach PhD research students and it will force some of Tasmania's best scientists to pursue career opportunities overseas."
The briefing followed rallies in Melbourne and Sydney yesterday, attended by more than 4,500 protestors opposing the cuts, which are expected to drop national funding from $715 million to around $400 million over three years.
Professor Foote said protecting Menzies funding was not a matter of simply saving a Tasmanian icon, it was an investment in the future health of all Tasmanians and Australians.
"Our medical research is highly valuable to the rest of the world, as we are able to take advantage of the unique competitive advantages Tasmania offers, including our small island geography, stable population, extensive genealogical records and a local community willing to participate in our studies," he said.
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