MEDIA RELEASE - 11 APRIL 2011

In response to growing concerns by the scientific research community about the Federal Treasury potentially cutting Australia’s medical research funding by $400m, Parramatta City Council resolved to publicly support its local research institutes, namely the Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI), the Kids’ Research Institute (KRI) and Westmead Millennium Institute (WMI).

“Our Westmead medical precinct happens to be Australia’s and also the southern hemisphere’s largest concentration of medical scientific vocations and activities. Consequently, we also have the arguably the largest number of research institutes in our own backyard,” said Clr Chiang Lim.

While mindful of the fact that the Federal Budget is not released until 11 May 2011, Parramatta City Councillors on principle objected to the potential of any cuts in federal funding to medical research. The Council also agreed to work with CMRI’s Professor Roger Reddel and WMI’s Professor Tony Cunningham AO in order to put forward the City’s view in the most effective possible way.

“We will now actively seek support from our local Federal Members of Parliament in anticipation of the release of the Federal Budget on 11 May 2011. I personally hope that this alleged funding cut is unfounded, and that instead our Australian medical research community is actually supported by increased federal funding,” said Clr Lim.

Parramatta’s local research institutes have since the 1960s pioneered microsurgery, contributed towards the breakthrough for Foetal Alcohol Syndrome, the discovery of Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) which also resulted in a rapid test for 15% of all cancers. The local research institutes have focused medical collaborations from other parts of the world, including Denmark, France, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, United Kingdom, China, USA and Singapore.

Other Reports and External Links:

1. "Revolt at Research Fund Cut" - The Australian Newspaper, 24 March 2011 (PDF file)

2. "Medical researchers expecting 20 per cent cut in budget funding" - ABC Canberra, 7 April 2011 (PDF file)

3. ABC radio interview of 7 April 2011 (MP3 audio file)

4. CMRI rallies for the health of Australians - Public Rally on 12 April 2011 at Belmore Park

5. Westmead Millennium Institute rallies against NHMRC budget cuts - Public Rally on 12 April 2011 at Belmore Park

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For any further information, please contact Clr Chiang Lim,
Parramatta City Council on 0427 277 299 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it