Defence export reforms would ‘see me jailed’, scientist warns


Joseph Brookes
Senior Reporter

One of Australia’s most esteemed scientists says he would be jailed for continuing his current research on semiconductors and nanotechnology under the government’s planned changes to defence trade controls.

Australian Academy of Science president Chennupati Jagadish on Tuesday issued a strong warning on the risks of planned changes to the Defence Trade Control Act and called for additional resourcing for researchers to adjust.

He warned Australia would risk its current access to knowledge, research infrastructure and funding by rushing into the changes, and potentially be locked out of “big science” projects like genome sequencing and vaccine development.

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