Australian basic research squeezed as R&D to fall to lowest level for decades

The Coalition government in Australia upset the odds to win a third term in office earlier this summer. Few researchers were happy. This government is pretty much the same as the old government, criticised for downgrading investment in basic research. Research spending as a percentage of GDP in Australia is around 1.88%, below the 2.36% average across advanced economies. Universities Australia, which represents 39 universities, estimates that in 2019 government spending on R&D will fall to its lowest level in four decades.