A short note to the Prime Minister (submitted)

Hello Prime Minister,

I recently got an email from NICTA, reminding me that your government had dismantled it. NICTA was doing one of the things Australia enjoys a competitive advantage: discovery and invention.  It was doing it in a domain that seems likely to remain highly relevant: computer communication infrastructure and algorithms.  What do I not understand here?  Algorithm design and development has at least matched the 'Moore's law' growth in computing performance - that is, at the same time computers have steadily grow more powerful, the algorithms for using that computing power have drastically improved. Having intellectual property by discovering it yourself is by far the cheapest way to get it. The book of Proverbs (16:16) reminds us: How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

When I look at funding cuts to the CSIRO, closure of various science offices and you taking on the science portfolio, I don't see a serious attempt to govern Australia in Australia's interests.  I see the captain of the plan turning off the instruments and sensors, denying what they're telling him, and proposing to make flying the whole point. Your promise to leave no Australian behind has taken on a kamikaze edge.