Tesla’s Robyn Denholm to Review Australia’s R&D Sector

The Albanese government has assigned Robyn Denholm, chair of Tesla and a prominent figure in the tech industry, to lead a crucial assessment of Australia’s research and development (R&D) sector.

Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic revealed on Dec. 2 that Denholm, along with a panel of three distinguished individuals from science and business, will evaluate Australia’s innovation performance.

“Responsible governments plan for the future. They consider how economies will evolve, how jobs will be created… R&D investment is a key driver of future economic strength,” he stated.

Goal to Enhance Innovation

Currently, Australia’s research and development sector contributes 1.68 percent to GDP, which is lower than the OECD average of 2.73 percent.

Denholm expressed her intent to utilize her “experience in the global and Australian business sectors” to guide the review and establish a framework that fosters innovation.

“While we excel at producing top-notch research, the focus now must be on development and commercialization to fully realize the impact of our efforts,” Denholm remarked.

“My aim for this review is to unleash the vast potential of Australian research by transforming it into tangible outcomes that deliver economic and societal advantages.”

Husic highlighted that Australia’s research and development performance has declined in the past decade, emphasizing the need for a solution to “enhance our capabilities from our boardrooms and labs to compete on a global scale.”

“This is a significant challenge, but Australian expertise can help us work smarter and sharpen our competitive edge against international rivals,” Husic added.

Conflict with Musk During Assessment

The announcement comes amidst tensions between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Tesla CEO Elon Musk following the Australian Parliament’s approval of the groundbreaking ban preventing teenagers under 16 from accessing social media, supported by the Coalition.

Albanese rejected Musk’s criticism of the ban, labeling it “totalitarian” and an “indirect attempt to regulate internet access.”

“As for Elon Musk, he has his own agenda. He’s entitled to advocate for that,” Albanese stated on ABC.

The prime minister expressed his willingness to discuss the age restriction with Musk, but affirmed that his government is committed to implementing it.

Musk, a staunch supporter and close associate of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, has been appointed to oversee the Department of Government Efficiency in the new administration.

Earlier this year, Albanese referred to Musk as an “arrogant billionaire” after X declined to remove graphic content depicting the alleged attack on a western Sydney bishop, sparking a legal dispute with Australia’s eSafety commissioner.

Musk previously criticized the Labor government as “fascists” for its unsuccessful attempt to levy fines on tech companies for spreading misinformation and disinformation on their platforms.