The Australia’s Knowledge Future consultation aimed to focus on defining the drivers of wealth in the 21st century and evaluating Australia’s progress against the rising targets of other nations:

Trade

How do we deal with our trade imbalance? How do we maximise our competitive strengths in the light of emerging services and knowledge strengths in developing economies such as India and China?

Defining a national goal

Is it sufficient and appropriate that Australia might aim to become the most educated society in the world?  How do we progressively elevate and measure Australia’s progress against the rising targets of other nations?

Education

Is there a need for a review of the whole structure and priority of education at all levels?  And who should be the provider(s)? Integration of education and training with industry and the respective roles of various tiers of government and the private sector in bringing this about?

Innovation capability

Evaluation of the scientific, research and applied technology effort in Australia.  Is it desirable and possible to encourage the commercial sector to invest more heavily in R & D?  How do we ensure that the knowledge and developments which flow from Australian R & D efforts produce commercial outcomes?  What is the role of intellectual property in this debate? Comparison with other developed nations and how can Australia both learn from and team with other nations in knowledge generation both for societal benefit and for industrial development?  Australia’s global contribution to knowledge generation?

Population

What approaches could be taken to address the issues of Australia’s aging population and reduced labour participation rates?  What role might immigration play?

Working Group Documentation:

Briefing note prior to the first Working Group meeting

Summary of discussions from Meeting 1

Summary of discussions from Meeting 2

Summary of discussions from Meeting 3

Australia's Knowledge Future Participants