Australia's Chief Scientist provides high-level independent advice to the Prime Minister and other Ministers on matters relating to science, technology and innovation. They also hold the position of Executive Officer of the National Science and Technology Council to identify challenges and opportunities for Australia that can be addressed, in part, through science.

The Chief Scientist can be appointed to ex-officio roles at the discretion of the government. Past appointments for Chief Scientists have included Chair of the 2016 National Research Infrastructure Roadmap Expert Working Group, Chair of the Australian Climate Change Science Framework Coordination Group, and membership of the R&D Tax Incentive Review Panel, the National Climate Science Advisory Committee, the Cooperative Research Centres Advisory Committee, the then Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) Advisory Board, and the Rural Research and Development Council. 

The position is also an advocate for Australian science internationally and focuses national thinking on science across the states and territories through the Forum of Australian Chief Scientists. An equally important part of the role of Chief Scientist for Australia is to be a champion of science, research and the role of evidence in the community and in government. Finally, the Chief Scientist is a communicator of science to the general public, with the aim to promote understanding of, contribution to and enjoyment of science and evidence-based thinking.

資料來源: http://www.chiefscientist.gov.au/about/