Media release - National Quantum Strategy: lots of talk but no tangible new action and no tangible new funding

At last the Albanese Government has released the National Quantum Strategy – but there is no tangible new action and no tangible new funding.

“There is nothing here which will meaningfully boost Australia’s prospects of staying at the global forefront of this emerging and critical technology,” Shadow Minister for Science, Paul Fletcher said today.

“It is now pretty obvious why Science Minister Ed Husic has been steadily talking down expectations for the past few months.

“The strategy document is very thin. It is full of wishy washy and essentially meaningless commitments to ‘actively monitor supply chain challenges’, to ‘explore measures’ to attract global talent and ‘explore options to strengthen collaboration.’

“When it comes to funding, there is extensive reference to initiatives of the former Morrison Government, such as the $2.2 billion University Research Commercialisation Action Plan announced (and funded) in the March 2022 budget.

“Other than that, there is a vague reference to one billion dollars of funding for critical technologies under the National Reconstruction Fund – but there is no commitment as to how much, if any, of this will go to quantum research or commercialisation.

“There are some serious omissions in the strategy. There is a clear need for closer alignment between industry and government, but the strategy has very little to say about this.

“Quantum is a critical new frontier in technology, and it will be increasingly vital for our economy and national security. Our nation needs a real and tangible plan for action; today’s effort falls well short of what is required.

“The contrast with the Coalition’s track record is stark. When in Government, the Coalition:

• Initiated work on the National Quantum Strategy

• Invested in the Quantum Commercialisation hub to foster strategic partnerships with like-minded countries to commercialise Australia’s quantum research and help businesses access new markets and investors

• Signed a Joint Statement on cooperation in Quantum Science and Technology with the United States, aiming to enhance each country’s quantum industry capabilities through improved market access and knowledge sharing

• Ensured a strong focus on quantum in the AUKUS partnership.

“One of the defining features of quantum computing is that a qubit can represent both a one and a zero simultaneously.

“Minister Husic has ingeniously replicated this feature in his approach to the National Quantum Strategy: it represents a one for talk but a zero for tangible new action,” Mr Fletcher said.