Government must shake off hangover of mining to unleash true innovation

Funding and optimism are a good start, but the government needs more courage to phase out fossil fuels and commit to real change

The boom is over, long live the boom.

Such was the central message at the launch of Malcolm Turnbull's national innovation and science agenda last week. According to the prime minister, "the mining boom inevitably has receded", but by "unleashing our innovation, unleashing our imagination, being prepared to embrace change, we usher in the ideas boom."