The 2014-15 federal budget announced the abolition of eight programs, with projected savings of $845.6 million over five years [1][2][3].
被 bèi 废除 fèi chú 的 de 项目 xiàng mù 包括 bāo kuò : :
The programs abolished included:
- **Commercialisation Australia (CA)** - Had provided over $200 million in funding to 503 companies since its inception, including successful companies like Seek.com [4][5]
- **Innovation Investment Fund (IIF)** - Had invested over $300 million in Australian venture capital funds [6]
- **Australian Industry Participation**
- **Enterprise Solutions**
- **Industry Innovations Councils**
- **Enterprise Connect**
- **Industry Innovation Precincts**
- **National ICT Australia (NICTA)** funding (ceased from 2016) [2]
The government replaced these programs with a single Entrepreneurs' Infrastructure Program, funded at $484.2 million over five years [3][7].
**The cuts followed National Commission of Audit recommendations.** The budget implemented recommendations from the National Commission of Audit to "abolish or merge dozens of government agencies" and reduce industry assistance programs [2][8].
**The government provided an alternative program.** Rather than simply cutting support, the government established the Entrepreneurs' Infrastructure Program with $484.2 million to focus on "supporting the commercialisation of good ideas, job creation and lifting the capabilities of small businesses" [3][7].
**The policy rationale was stated.** Treasurer Joe Hockey said the government would "refocus our effort on innovation and self-reliance" and that "businesses should stand or fall on their ability to produce goods and services that people actually want" [3].
**Additional cuts affected related programs.** The Interactive Games Fund (established by Labor in 2012 with $20 million over three years) was also axed, saving $10 million [9].
**itnews.com.au** is an Australian technology news website focused on business technology news, analysis, and opinion for Australian CIOs and IT professionals.
It is owned by nextmedia and is generally regarded as a mainstream technology industry publication without strong partisan alignment.
该 gāi 来源 lái yuán 报道 bào dào 的 de 预算 yù suàn 事实 shì shí 信息 xìn xī 得到 dé dào 了 le Australian Australian Financial Financial Review Review 、 、 ZDNet ZDNet 和 hé SmartCompany SmartCompany 等 děng 其他 qí tā 媒体 méi tǐ 的 de 广泛 guǎng fàn 证实 zhèng shí [ [ 1 1 ] ] [ [ 2 2 ] ] [ [ 3 3 ] ] 。 。
The source reported factual budget information that was widely corroborated by other outlets including the Australian Financial Review, ZDNet, and SmartCompany [1][2][3].
The programs that were cut were largely established or expanded under previous Labor governments:
- **Commercialisation Australia** was established under the Rudd Labor government in 2009 as part of the "Powering Ideas" innovation agenda [10]
- **Innovation Investment Fund** was also a Labor-era program, dating back to 2009-2010 [10]
- **Australian Interactive Games Fund** was established by Labor in 2012 with $20 million over three years [9]
**Labor's innovation track record:**
The Labor government (2007-2013) invested in these programs as part of their innovation policy.
是 shì 的 de 。 。
However, it's worth noting that innovation funding has historically fluctuated between governments of both parties based on budget priorities and economic conditions.
**Coalition's subsequent innovation policy:**
In December 2015, the Turnbull Coalition government launched the National Innovation and Science Agenda (NISA), committing over $1.1 billion over four years to innovation, including $459 million for key research organizations and $2.3 billion over 10 years for broader innovation support [11].
While the claim accurately reports the $845.6 million in savings from abolishing start-up programs, it omits important context about the government's rationale and replacement programs.
**Criticisms of the cuts:**
Industry groups including StartupAUS, the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA), and individual entrepreneurs strongly criticized the cuts.
StartupAUS described Commercialisation Australia as "a vital lifeline for Australian startups and much needed support for angel investment" [6].
包括 bāo kuò StartupAUS StartupAUS 、 、 Australian Australian Information Information Industry Industry Association Association ( ( AIIA AIIA ) ) 以及 yǐ jí 个别 gè bié 企业家 qǐ yè jiā 在内 zài nèi 的 de 行业 háng yè 团体 tuán tǐ 强烈 qiáng liè 批评 pī píng 了 le 这些 zhè xiē 削减 xuē jiǎn 。 。
Critics noted that Australia already invested "a fraction of what other developed countries do funding tech startups" [9].
**Government justification:**
The government argued it was streamlining an "overlapping plethora of small grants and entitlements" into a more focused program [7].
Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane stated the new program would "bring research and business together to develop and commercialise home-grown ideas" [7].
The changes aligned with the National Commission of Audit's recommendations to reduce government agencies and streamline industry assistance [2].
**Subsequent developments:**
The criticism of these cuts likely influenced the Turnbull government's 2015 NISA announcement, which represented a major reinvestment in innovation with over $1.1 billion in funding.
* * * * 政府 zhèng fǔ 辩护 biàn hù : : * * * *
This suggests the Coalition did respond to concerns about innovation support, albeit with a different programmatic approach than the Labor programs they had abolished.
**Comparative context:**
Budget cuts to innovation programs have occurred under governments of both parties when fiscal consolidation is prioritized.
8.456 8.456 亿澳元 yì ào yuán 的 de 数字 shù zì 是 shì 准确 zhǔn què 的 de , , 并 bìng 通过 tōng guò 包括 bāo kuò Australian Australian Financial Financial Review Review 、 、 ZDNet ZDNet 和 hé 行业 háng yè 出版物 chū bǎn wù 在内 zài nèi 的 de 多个 duō gè 权威 quán wēi 来源 lái yuán 得到 dé dào 验证 yàn zhèng 。 。
The $845.6 million figure is accurate and verified through multiple authoritative sources including the Australian Financial Review, ZDNet, and industry publications.
然而 rán ér , , 该 gāi 说法 shuō fǎ 只 zhǐ 呈现 chéng xiàn 了 le 故事 gù shì 的 de 一面 yí miàn , , 忽略 hū lüè 了 le : :
However, the claim presents only one side of the story by omitting:
1.
The subsequent $1.1 billion NISA innovation agenda announced in 2015
4.
4 4 . . 这些 zhè xiē 是 shì 工党 gōng dǎng 建立 jiàn lì 的 de 项目 xiàng mù 被 bèi 废除 fèi chú 的 de 事实 shì shí
That these were Labor-established programs being abolished
The claim is factually correct about the cuts but misleading by implying this was the end of Coalition support for innovation, when in fact the government both replaced the programs (at reduced funding) and later substantially increased innovation investment through NISA.
8.456 8.456 亿澳元 yì ào yuán 的 de 数字 shù zì 是 shì 准确 zhǔn què 的 de , , 并 bìng 通过 tōng guò 包括 bāo kuò Australian Australian Financial Financial Review Review 、 、 ZDNet ZDNet 和 hé 行业 háng yè 出版物 chū bǎn wù 在内 zài nèi 的 de 多个 duō gè 权威 quán wēi 来源 lái yuán 得到 dé dào 验证 yàn zhèng 。 。
The $845.6 million figure is accurate and verified through multiple authoritative sources including the Australian Financial Review, ZDNet, and industry publications.
然而 rán ér , , 该 gāi 说法 shuō fǎ 只 zhǐ 呈现 chéng xiàn 了 le 故事 gù shì 的 de 一面 yí miàn , , 忽略 hū lüè 了 le : :
However, the claim presents only one side of the story by omitting:
1.
The subsequent $1.1 billion NISA innovation agenda announced in 2015
4.
4 4 . . 这些 zhè xiē 是 shì 工党 gōng dǎng 建立 jiàn lì 的 de 项目 xiàng mù 被 bèi 废除 fèi chú 的 de 事实 shì shí
That these were Labor-established programs being abolished
The claim is factually correct about the cuts but misleading by implying this was the end of Coalition support for innovation, when in fact the government both replaced the programs (at reduced funding) and later substantially increased innovation investment through NISA.