Today is the beginning of National Science Week, and I was very pleased this morning to accompany the Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic, and the Chief Scientist, Dr Cathy Foley, to visit the ANU Research School of Chemistry, where the minister announced the new national science priorities. While we were there, we also had the opportunity to visit Samsara Eco, which is a start-up based at the research school led by Vanessa Vongsouthi and Matt Spence. Samsara Eco have developed a technology which can break down plastics with enzymes to be reused in other manufacturing processes. It's a technology that, if fully implemented, will mean that all types of plastic can be recycled infinitely. This is a world-changing technology being pioneered right here in Canberra.

Today I also want to congratulate the ACT scientist of the year, Dr Bjorn Sturmberg, also from the ANU and the School of Engineering. He received this award in recognition of his research on battery storage and grid integration, which will be crucial as Australians moved to EV technology. Dr Sturmberg is also the author of Amy's Balancing Act, a fantastic children's book teaching our youngest Australians about the transition to renewable energy. To celebrate National Science Week, I'm really proud to be partnering with Bjorn to donate a copy of this book to every primary school in my electorate of Canberra. Happy National Science Week to all. I say thank you to all of the scientist for what they do each and every day.