Arguing the country must “change its cultural relationship to science” and reinstate it as a key economic pillar,the deputy Labor leader will tell the National Press Club of Australia on Wednesday that turning science into jobs must be a key part of the opposition’s election platform.
Mr Marles says he draws inspiration from the Square Kilometre Array telescope — known as the SKA — in Murchison,Western Australia,which will “illuminate the heavens in an unprecedented way”.
“It will give us the best view of the origins of the universe,” he says in a draft version of the speech.
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“It will likely be able to detect planets in the universe with biomarkers in their atmosphere. And when it does,quite possibly at the end of this decade,we will have the first proof of life beyond earth. This will be a profound moment in human existence.”
“The world’s smartest people are working on it – and that includes plenty of Australians. Indeed this is happening here in Australia.”
The Victorian MP,who graduated science at university majoring in pure mathmatics,was handed a new super-portfolio in Labor’s frontbench reshuffle in January. It includes national reconstruction,employment,skills and small business.