AusBiotech welcomes the Federal Government's release of the draft National Health and Medical Research Strategy. Announced by the Hon Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health and Ageing, the 10-year plan will undergo further consultation before the final strategy is delivered by the end of 2025.
This marks a significant step towards a national approach to health and medical research, one that nurtures Australia's world-leading discoveries and ensures our scientific excellence has the potential to be translated, developed, and commercialised into global health innovations.
AusBiotech has engaged with Ms Rosemary Huxtable AO PSM, Chair of the National Strategy, and her departmental colleagues as they have developed the draft Strategy and is continuing to engage its broad membership.
AusBiotech CEO Rebekah Cassidy said a strong health and medical research sector is foundational to the success of Australia's life sciences industry: "For our sector to thrive, it needs a coordinated and well-invested research sector. Without research, there is no pipeline of health innovation, no pipeline of companies, and no ecosystem to sustain them.
"Australia's life science sector has almost 2,900 organisations and employs one in every 60 jobs. We only want those numbers to grow. Our world-class health and medical research are critical to long-term growth and global impact of our broader sector."
AusBiotech welcomes the draft Strategy's focus on research translation, the critical role of commercialisation and industry growth, and the importance of a robust clinical trials sector. We are also encouraged by its recognition of the need to strengthen sovereign manufacturing capability, streamline regulatory pathways, and incentivise local procurement of medical products to build sovereign capability and supply chain resilience.
"There is a race for innovation globally," Rebekah said. "Especially in health, countries are taking active steps to grow their biotechnology and medical technology industries, to improve the wellbeing of their citizens, while strengthening both economic resilience and health security. Now is the time for Australia to similarly invest, across the entire health innovation pipeline.
"Our peer nations are investing in their life sciences sectors via clearly articulated, whole-of-government life sciences strategies. If Australia's doesn't act urgently, our homegrown capabilities — from research through to companies on the cusp of commercialisation— will be snapped up by countries that are hungry for our innovation and willing to invest.
"We are currently leaving enormous opportunities on the table – including benefits to the health and wellbeing of our people, our economy and our health security."
AusBiotech continues to advocate for a unified whole-of-government strategic approach to the life sciences industry, whose numerous policy touchpoints, including research, are currently dispersed across over nine different Australian Government portfolios.
Throughout 2025, AusBiotech has campaigned for a policy agenda focused on four key asks of the Federal Government:
• Developing Australia's first whole-of-government National Life Sciences Strategy to set clear policy priorities and eliminate gaps and overlaps.
• Establishing an Australian Life Sciences Council, and a partnership between industry and government to drive this Strategy, address sector challenges and ensure value for investment.
• Investing in data collection to drive innovation and improve policy and decision-making.
• Recognising life sciences as a priority under the government's industry policy frameworks.
AusBiotech will continue to engage with its 3,000-strong member network throughout the National Health and Medical Research Strategy's consultation process and looks forward to working with government as it is finalised.
