What about all the innovative inventions that never gain a foothold in the Australian marketplace because investment dollars are impossible to find? A brilliant production-line 'energyless' coating technology has been developed and is just waiting for some investment to build the first line which, if taken up widely, will drastically reduce energy consumption in many industries that use decorative coatings (see http://www.spectratech.com.au). I'm sure there are many just as innovative, potentially world-changing technologies that have been invented in this country that can't get going because the government sees export revenue only in holes in the ground, and because of the constant response from venture capitalists "we don't invest in start-ups". Funding scientific research is great, but some successful research is done without any up-front funding and then ignored.

I note a number of other inventions have been missed by this disgruntled author, e.g. the Sarich Engine which was bought up by an oil company in order to bury it forever. I recall a number of other similar incidents. I also recall the withdrawal of funding for the sciences in the 1990's that forced many of our scientists overseas in order to simply work, let alone invent anything. Hence, many inventions that may have been developed here with appropriate funding, have been claimed by overseas interests.
Please, this is a useless article that demonstrates nothing, much less proves anything. Find something that really will occupy the attention of most Australians.

Shonga. The aborigines are a race. The “we” in your post is not.

Outside of aborigines, there are no Australian genes. All our genes have recently been imported from other continents. If Australians as a collection of people are good at inventing things, then it has to be due to an Australian culture which encourages invention.

The reality is that our culture for invention is far less productive than that of the Swedes and far, far less productive that that of the British and the Americans.

Our Noble laureates in science are fewer than what is claimed as they did their innovative work overseas. In other words - in a more productive culture. The accolades should go to the culture within which the work was done.

For as long as we have largely a scientifically illiterate parliament focused on economic growth which can be measured on an annual basis, there will be no appreciation for research for its own sake. Innovative Australians will go overseas to a more receptive culture.

The article delivers the right message – we are up ourselves

Some years ago an aid worker of my acquaintance was in the midst of a crisis in a refugee camp when he heard someone shout, "Is there a doctor somewhere - British army or an Australian." He later queried this and was told that, in the medical world these two groups are the most highly regarded, especially for inventiveness.

You demonstrate a lack of coherent thinking in your assertions, healthwatcher.

There are many different races, that make up the politically designated “aboriginal race”, just as there are many races make up the Australian race.

“Race” is a term incapable of scientific definition, but that makes it no less real. In the case of many aboriginals it is a matter of personal choice, since they are whites who claim some aboriginal heritage.

The reality which you describe does not stand up to scrutiny. Despite the depredations of the last century, by the likes of Whitlam, Australia has reasserted itself.

It has a primary industry that has gone from being extremely labour intensive, to being the least labour intensive in the world.

Our army is outstanding, because of its unique Australian character.

In the medical field, we are a match for any country in the world.

Even in technology, where defence spending, in America, put it way out in front, Australia has in some areas come up with the innovations that are in the forefront.

How do the Swedes come into this? Are you impressed by the Volvo?

It is illuminating to hear from someone who is able to relate to the weird approach of this author.

Unlike onemack I found this article both amusing and informative. Like the author, I am a little tired of the exaggerated opinion Australians have of their own (or their fellow citizens’) inventiveness, and of the unacknowledged vanity this reflects.

A humorous and fact-based bursting of this particular bubble is exactly what’s needed.

It is also noteworthy how often Australians’ presumed inventiveness is used as a special plea for government subsidies and intervention. If we’re not reaping billions from our God-given inventive abilities, it must be because of a lack of:
a) Government funding
b) Science education
c) effective commercialisation
d) R&D expenditure
e) Protectionism
f) Skills in protecting our intellectual property.
g) … insert your cause of choice, perhaps cue another sob story about orbital engines, and reminisce about the dance routines at the Sydney Olympics.

The author does’t say Australians are dumb or uninventive, just that we’re neither exceptionally good nor exceptionally bad at these things.

It’s telling how unwelcome this message is to some posters.