Australia’s science leaders had little to cheer about following the release of the government’s “back in the black” 2019-20 budget.

While there were some science winners – including ANSTO – there were also some surprising cutbacks – namely CSIRO and university research programs.

The biggest winner without doubt was the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) which will receive additional long-term funding totalling $20 billion.

The MRFF was established in 2015 to support health and medical research and create commercialisation opportunities.

But budget allocations for other research programs were modest to say the least.

Highlights included:

• ANSTO to get an additional $56.4 million over the next three years for its nuclear medicine research and other work such as radioactive waste management.

• Monash University and the University of Melbourne to receive $25 million over four years to establish a “coasts, environment and climate science research and education centre” at Point Nepean, Victoria.

• Space Infrastructure Fund gets an additional $19.5 million in support to further develop an Australian space industry.

• $3.4 million over four years to promote greater participation of girls and women in STEM.

• Questacon allocated $15.1 million over three years to expand its education and out research activities.

• University of Melbourne to get $5 million over two years to build a dark matter research laboratory.

Science “losses” include:

• Abolition of the $3.9 billion Education Investment Fund, with the funds moved to a new Emergency Response Fund.

• $345 million slashed from university research funding.

• $6.73 million cut from the ARC researching funding, a reverse of the return to indexation announced in last year’s budget.

• $21.5 million lost in CSIRO forward estimates.

• National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Scheme to lose $16.5 million

In a budget statement, Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Karen Andrews said a new $19.5 million national Space Infrastructure Fund would support Australia’s emerging domestic space industry.

“This means money on the ground to help triple the size of the Australian space sector to $12 billion and increase employment to 30,000 jobs by 2030,” she said.

The Space Infrastructure Fund includes:

• $2 million for the delivery of future world class space manufacturing capability in NSW which will support the development of high-tech skills and new space objects.

• A $6 million Mission Control Centre in South Australia which will create a platform for SMEs and researchers to control small satellite missions, enabling real-time control and testing and the accelerated development of Australian satellite technology

Also, Ms Andrews said $3.4 million would be allocated over four years, to promote the benefits of STEM skills for girls and women.

This includes funding to extend the Science in Australia Gender Equity initiative in higher education and research institutions.

“The Government is committed to making sure all Australians have the skills to equip them for jobs of the future,” Ms Andrews said.

“To ensure our children can compete for jobs in the coming decades, we need to build a stronger Australian workforce with more science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills.”