Chief Scientist 1989-94

Component identifier:

Series 4

Content Summary:

Slatyer was appointed Chairman of the Australian Science and Technology Council by Malcolm Fraser in 1982. He was continued in that position by R.J. Hawke when he became Prime Minister, serving until 1987. When the government established the new science policy arrangements in 1989, Slatyer became the first Chief Scientist.

As Chief Scientist Slatyer was an adviser to the Hawke Government and briefly to the Keating Government. The series includes a photocopy of the Chief Scientist job agreement, correspondence between cabinet ministers, heads of business enterprises, government agencies, departmental secretaries, university vice-chancellors, national and international leaders of the science, technology, and environmental communities. Slatyer was chairman of the Australian Science and Technology Council (ASTEC) and there are papers relating to the work of the Council. Also included is Paul Keating's farewell speech to him as Chief Scientist.

During Slatyer's time as Chief Scientist he travelled extensively and there are papers, reports, correspondence, travel arrangements and notes about his impressions of science issues in other countries. The format of the material includes faxes, letters, e-mails, photocopies of official government material, reports, policy papers, awards, overhead transparencies, Slatyer's handwritten drafts and notes and publications.

In this series the folders have been listed according to Slatyer's subject headings, with some elaborations.

Immediate source of acquisition:

The papers were donated by Professor Ralph Slatyer in 1999.

Names:

Ralph Owen Slatyer

Contents

Access and use