Albanese’s quantum leap with tax dollars

A billion dollars is a lot of money. Especially when it’s taxpayer money. It’s already tough for many Australians trying to make ends meet. And then along comes an Anthony Albanese/Jim Chalmers/Ed Husic special in the form of a billion-dollar investment in a US company for a quantum computer to be built in Brisbane.

Queensland Premier Steven Miles said: “This is our moonshot, our Project Apollo.”

The Premier might have to get some more spinners as it wasn’t until Apollo 11 that man landed on the moon, and likewise Mr Miles may have missed the catastrophic results in some previous missions.

Is quantum computing important? Absolutely. Whoever can deliver a stable quantum computer will be in an extremely strong position.

This is why countries invest in research and development. It’s also why industrial espionage, head hunting of technical expertise and serious security has surrounded that research and development.

The Australian Government’s recently released 2023 National Quantum Strategy, Canberra’s plan to grow a quantum industry in Australia, is an actual strategy. Which is why it is such a shame that the federal Labor Government hasn’t followed their own proposal, which calls for the government to:

• invest in, and grow Australia’s quantum research and industry to compete with the world’s best,

• strengthen Australia’s international partnerships and influence as well as opportunities for Australian quantum companies, and

• champion responsible innovation and ensure the growth of Australia’s quantum industry supports economic prosperity while safeguarding our national interests.

Yet Canberra awarded CSIRO and Sydney Quantum Academy (SQA) just $4.6m in grants in 2023.

For a federal government that has made a political art form of claiming transparency is essential, the awarding of $1bn to a US-based company is opaque to say the least.

The question on most lips at the moment is this: How does this help keep a roof over my head and food on the table?

Is this the best use of what is ultimately the taxpayers’ money? Budgets are about choices after all. Of course, federal Labor could always have invested $1bn into Australian quantum companies and researchers while safeguarding our national interests.

But hey, that sounds a bit much like the actual plan.

Here’s hoping it’s not an Apollo One.