The Australian Government's Innovation Report

The majority of research-related publications generated through Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
funding are produced by other agencies. In 2005-06, however, the authority itself produced eight researchrelated
publications, including the First annual marine monitoring programme report September 2005 and Research needs
for protection and management of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park 2005.
The authority maintains successful collaborations with many science organisations including the CRC Reef,
AIMS, James Cook University, the University of Queensland and the ARC Centre of Excellence in Coral Reef
Studies. In partnership with the CRC Reef, the authority has also developed successful research collaborations
with the fishing and tourism industries.
In 2005-06, the authority played a key role in developing the research programme for the new Marine and
Tropical Sciences Research Facility funded by the Department of the Environment and Heritage. It also has
partnerships with community and industry-based environmental monitoring programmes such as Eye on the
Reef, Bleach Watch, Reef Check, the Cap Reef programme (based in Yeppoon) and Seagrass Watch (an
initiative of the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries).
More information about the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and its programmes and
activities can be found at: www.gbrmpa.gov.au
National Measurement Institute
The National Measurement Institute (NMI) is Australia’s national centre for measurement. It is responsible for
physical, chemical, biological and legal metrology and for developing and maintaining Australia’s national standards
of measurement traceable to the international system. NMI also disseminates measurement standards through
calibration services and chemical and biological reference materials. As part of its responsibility for Australia’s units
and standards of measurement, NMI represents Australia on international forums under the Metre Treaty and the
International Organisation for Legal Metrology.
NMI’s services include calibration at the highest level of accuracy, pattern approval of measuring instruments
and a broad range of chemical measurements to support industry and government. These include food composition
and safety, chemicals of concern to the environment, detection and analysis of illicit drugs and drugs used in sport.
NMI works with industry and government to develop new and more accurate measurements and to transfer
measurement technology to clients. NMI also provides training in metrology.
NMI’s budget is approximately $51 million of which about $24 million comprises revenue from services. In
2005-06, NMI:
• published 23 externally refereed papers and 58 other publications, and delivered 29 training courses for
participants from industries, including chemical, weighing, metering, electrical, electronics and power
generation, trade measurement and analytical services;
• installed NMI technology to provide the national telephone, or ‘speaking clock’ service, and direct time
feeds to users in the private and government sectors. The usefulness of these time services has been
significantly enhanced by the direct link to NMI and Australia’s official time standard;
• provided full sports drug-testing facilities to the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games. The
laboratory operated a seven-day-a-week service for the period of the Games and delivered results of
high quality to authorities within the agreed timeframes;
• participated in 24 bilateral and multilateral international comparisons with outcomes of very high
accuracy. This demonstrates the quality of NMI’s metrology and ensures confidence in Australia’s
national measurement standards and the national measurement system; and
• developed several new measurement standards, including:
o a tension measurement system for materials testing and other applications (up to a force of 5.5
megaNewtons);
o a low pressure measurement to support barometric pressure measurements and environmental
monitoring;
38 Backing Australia’s Ability