The great divide between evidence-based research and government policy is complex. Scientists have been calling on governments to address anthropogenic climate change for decades, seeking policies that align with their research findings, but there has been no rush to respond and, unfortunately, climate change is not the only example of this. So why, despite scientific evidence, does so little translate into policy and action?

The Australian government recently released a new National Science Statement, aiming to shape “science policy and leadership across governments, in our labs, in research institutions and in boardrooms”. Don Williams critically assesses the Statement, locating positive elements and potential risks, and examining links to the broader policy agenda.

The intrinsic mismatch between curiosity-led scientific work with a policy agenda focused on reducing financial costs through commercial forces leads to disregard for scientific information, system fragmentation, increased complexity, and the atomisation of accountability as common consequences of introducing competition to previously unified systems.