Innovation Funding
Ms Cate Faehrmann: On behalf of The Greens, I move:
That the question be amended by omitting paragraph (2).
Paragraph (2) of the motion congratulates the former Coalition Government on everything it did, and we would like that removed. With that paragraph removed, The Greens are inclined to support the motion because the fairly beige support—if I can call it that—from the Minns Government for startups and innovation has been disappointing. Members of the startup community have been quite scathing of the budget. I recognise what the Minister just said in her speech, but they have been very scathing of the $703 million Future Economy Fund that was scrapped in the first budget from this Treasurer. In fact, Simon Thomsen wrote an opinion piece at theStartup Daily blog in September that said:
Labor’s first NSW budget in 13 years is very much meat-and-two-veg …
One does not want the startup and entrepreneurial community to call something "meat-and-two-veg" in 2023. Members of that community have also slammed the so-called blueprint, as is mentioned in the motion. They have made note of just how much has been done over the past five years, if not 10 years, in terms of developing what is essentially the blueprint that the Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading, Minister Chanthivong, has said will be created. Members of the startup and tech community are frustrated because it is all there already and has been since 2018. There has been a slash in funding, the promise of a blueprint—and another review, and another review, and another review. This Labor Government seems to rest everything that it does upon another review, at the expense of action. It just needs to happen. The Greens support the motion. We do not think that the Government has been doing enough to support the startup and tech community.
Full text of the motion:
Hon. Jacqui Munro moved:
(1)That this House notes:
(a) that the Minns Labor Government's proposed "Innovation Blueprint" has a delivery deadline of July 2024;
(b) the ongoing confusion surrounding grants and other support programs for innovation and entrepreneurs in New South Wales due to Government indecision;
(c) that world-changing startup businesses are relocating out of New South Wales because interstate Governments are providing better support for entrepreneurs; and
(d) that the Government's comprehensive expenditure review process has not resulted in the delivery of comprehensive information about the State's expenditure for the people of New South Wales.
(2) That this House recognises the foundational work undertaken by the Coalition Government to foster economic growth and entrepreneurship in New South Wales, including:
(a) the creation of and funding for the Sydney Startup Hub and Western Sydney Startup Hub;
(b) delivering and acting upon detailed reports and recommendations by departmental and industry experts, including:
(i) Bringing Big Ideas to Life: NSW Innovation Strategy (November 2016);
(ii) 2022 NSW Innovation and Productivity Scorecard (2018 – 2022);
(iii) Let's Collaborate: SMEs using research to drive innovation (December 2020);
(iv) Turning ideas into jobs: Accelerating research and development in NSW (January 2021);
(v) Global talent wars: learning from locations that attract the best (March 2022);
(vi) NSW 20-year R&D Roadmap (May 2022);
(vii) Adaptive NSW: how embracing tech could recharge our prosperity (November 2022); and
(viii) Emerging Digital Technologies Strategy (January 2023).
(c) the identification of technology priorities in New South Wales including:
(i) Fintech;
(ii) Cybersecurity;
(iii) VR, AR and digital games;
(iv) Quantum computing;
(v) Artificial intelligence and data services;
(vi) Blockchain and Web3; and
(vii) Enterprise application and online platforms.
(3) That this House condemns the Minns Labor Government for failing to provide meaningful support and leadership for the innovation sector and entrepreneurs in New South Wales.