57694 (2024). Scott Willis to the Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology

57694 (2024). Scott Willis to the Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology: How is the Government ensuring that operational decisions related to the perceptions of decreased funding to GNS Science is not undermining the expertise, knowledge, models and international partnerships that serve as a foundation of GeoNet and other hazard response systems, as well as the National Seismic Hazard Model?

Hon Judith Collins: This Government has committed to funding critical natural hazards research and capability. Through Budget 2024 we have committed $106 million over four years to continue the GeoNet platform and the National Seismic Hazards Model. This provides long-term baselined funding to support GNS Science to maintain critical specialist capability and datasets of national significance related to geohazards. Now that GNS Science has certainty of the funding profile for GeoNet and the National Seismic Hazards Model, it will need to consider how it can most effectively deliver the programmes in consultation with the multiple government agencies that use those services. The board of GNS Science, not the Government, is responsible for decisions on its work programme and operational decisions related to financial management.