The race to build Australia's first synchrotron is heating up. The Victoria state government said last week that it has found $82 million to build an x-ray facility that researchers can use to probe the atomic structure of everything from proteins to new materials. The announcement surprised and upset officials in Queensland and New South Wales, two other states that are fiercely competing to host the device.
Last May, the three states submitted proposals to the federal government to win $15 million in synchrotron start-up funds, with a decision due in August. But Victoria premier Steve Bracks upstaged the competition by saying that his state will pony up $52 million for its planned device (above), with industry and research institutes adding $30 million more.
The preemptive strike took federal science minister Nick Minchin "totally unawares," says a spokesperson. Minchin cautiously praised the initiative but noted that the government will still evaluate the pending proposals. Queensland premier Peter Beatty says Victoria's move was unsporting and that his state will stick to its "more honorable approach." He urged the warring parties to meet soon to sort things out.
