Innovation is on the agenda in Australia with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull giving a key statement on the subject recently. In a recent article in Geektime, Shane Greenup states that what was said left many feeling underwhelmed and frustrated.

He goes on to argue that, while the US create technology juggernauts like Apple and Facebook, Australia lags behind. His country should be looking to emulate the US in other fields such as biotechnology, space tech or quantum computing. The problem is that the infrastructure and incentives just aren’t there.

In order to develop a thriving and innovative culture, Greenup suggests the introduction of a universal basic income. He claims that basic income will provide the security and freedom for people to innovate, as well as other social benefits such as poverty reduction, eradication of the welfare gap and reducing income inequality.

Shane Greenup is one of the founders of Basic Income Australia.

Shane Greenup, “How a universal basic income could fuel entrepreneurship”, Geektime, December 17, 2015