E&OE Transcript

Radio Interview

Talking Canberra with Leon on 2CC Canberra

Tuesday 15 July 2025

Host, Leon Delaney: Now, while we're on the topic of somewhat esoteric scientific pursuits, how about this, the Federal Member for Canberra, Alicia Payne, has today announced funding to fast track Aussie quantum innovations, including funding for a tech company here in Canberra, which apparently is working on something called optical coherence tomography. Yeah, I have no idea what it is, either, perhaps our Federal Member for Canberra, Alicia Payne, can enlighten me. Alicia, thanks very much for joining us today.

Alicia Payne MP: Good afternoon, Leon.

LD: Well, what exactly is quantum innovation, and in particular, what is optical coherence tomography?

AP: Well, I'm not going to pretend that I'm the best person to explain that or even understand that, either. But the key point here is that the government is backing a Canberra organisation that have developed technology that means that we can get better access for First Nations communities and remote communities around Australia to technologies that may save people's sight. So as you said, the Angel Eye Care, which is based here, has received funding as part of the Critical Technologies Challenge Program. They've received a grant of just under half a million dollars. This is to bring this technology that they're working on. So this whole program is around quantum innovation, which is about, you know, again don't quote me, about making computers a lot smaller and more powerful, I suppose, is my sort of understanding, which is probably not quite correct. So with regard to the optical coherence tomography this is about meaning technologies that would normally be quite big and bulky and perhaps not possible to get into these remote communities around Australia will be developed into something that is easily transportable and can actually get more people to be able to access the assessment of their eyes and hopefully prevent problems with their eyesight.

LD: I sympathize with your struggles trying to come to terms with what exactly quantum computers can do, but essentially, the step from computers as we know them, up to quantum computers will represent an enormous step forward in terms of computing capacity, power of many orders of magnitude, so computers can be much smaller, much faster, and achieve much more. And in this particular instance, the optical coherence tomography will help to map the inside of an individual's eye, which of course, is invaluable in diagnosing some serious eye conditions that people might have. But quantum computing has got big opportunities across the board, and I guess that's what's behind this, this Critical Technologies Challenge program. Is that right?

AP: Absolutely. So this is about our government backing quantum technology and innovation in Australia and helping to develop the relationships between researchers and business in order to support these innovations to come from great ideas and to support the brilliant work that people are doing to make these technologies come to fruition and deliver those benefits that you've just talked about. So this is just one of 14 projects that are sharing in the current round, which is over $5 million of grants. And the entire program is a $35.9 million program, which we announced in 2023 which is part of the national quantum strategy. So it is about building Australia's capability in this area and supporting the amazing work that's already being done. And of course, Canberra is a place where we're really, actually punching above our weight as a relatively small city in terms of the innovation and the tech that is happening here on a daily basis. So it's really great to see that recognized in this particular example for Angel eyecare.

LD: Indeed. And of course, Canberra is mostly known as being a public service town and employing lots of bureaucrats. But the reality is that there's plenty of businesses here in Canberra and the tech business sector is a terrific opportunity for Canberra to pursue in terms of expanding its economic footprint, and tremendous benefits there for the city and for the ACT. Look just very quickly before we go, because we've run out of time, but before you came onto the phone I was talking about the situation unfolding at the Australian National University as we speak now that's squarely in your electorate. Do you have concerns that that process there of cutting costs at the expense of so many jobs and of long standing departments at the university? Do you have concerns that that's having a negative impact?

AP: Absolutely I do Leon, and I think honestly, these job cuts are not just happening at the ANU. We're seeing them at a lot of universities around Australia, including the University of Canberra has also just had a lot of cuts there as well. And I think it's always cause for concern. Sometimes cuts do need to be made, but we need to make sure that they're being made in the best interests of the universities and what they're there to deliver. The ANU is obviously a really key institution for Canberra, but for our whole nation as our National University, and I'm am really concerned about what's going on there. I've been meeting with lots of staff who've been coming to me to raise their concerns about the cuts, but also about, you know, a feeling that they're not being consulted, or that they're not understanding what the broader strategy or justification for these is. And I have been raising those concerns with Minister Jason Claire, and as listeners are probably aware, it's been referred to the Tertiary Education Qualification Standards Authority for further like he's referred it to them for further investigation. And I have also personally raised these concerns with with the Vice Chancellor.

LD: But of course, while all that happens, these job cuts are progressing, they're proceeding apace before any kind of inquiry can be conducted, or before, you know, perhaps, perhaps it's time for the Minister to press the pause button and tell the university that look, hang on. We want to have a closer look at this before we run the risk of doing damage that can't be undone.

AP: Yeah. Well, the Minister has written to the Chancellor and sought assurances that the issues that we've been reading about in the media and that we've seen in the Nixon review, and the financial concerns around the financial situation there are being addressed. He's sought those assurances. He has a limited ability to actually intervene in this while the ANU is different to most other universities, because it is under Federal Acts rather than State Acts, because it's the National University, makes it unique in that way. But he does have a limited ability to actually intervene in governance processes that are going on, but he is clearly engaging on that issue andtaking pretty serious steps there, in writing to the Chancellor and in referring it to TEQSA.

LD: The stories that are being reported every day now are increasingly alarming. It's getting to the point where there needs to be some sort of, at least, review of what the current management of the university is doing.

AP: Yeah, well, as I said, I've been meeting with many staff who've been seeking meetings with me, and I have been passing those concerns on to the minister and to the Vice Chancellor. And I think, you know, it's fair to say that academics don't want to be coming to their local members about these things. They're coming because they don't feel that they've been heard, and they've got deep concerns about the process. So, you know, and as a general principle, you know, we really, these are some of the brightest minds in our country. And whenever I meet with, you know, people in universities, which I do, because there are five universities in my electorate, it's really important to understand the incredibly important work that these people do, the dedication and often years and years of work that have led to them being in the positions that they're in, and the fact that they're not only doing the research that will deliver the breakthroughs of the future and solve the problems of the future, but educating the next generation of People in obviously a range of professions. And so it is concerning from that general perspective, but it's particularly concerning when you know some of the things that I've been hearing directly from staff there.

LD: Alicia, thanks very much for your time today.

AP: Thanks for having me. Thank you.