As others pointed out, this is a good article but for the unecessary and inaccurate statement "This is not blue sky research, not theoretical explorations at the edges of science, but health and medical research. Could any science be more obviously in the public interest?"
One particular example, that is so much more in the public interest than medical research is the issue of climate change - if we stuff up the environment of our planet enough we won't have to worry about medical research! Or we will have to worry a great deal more.
As an aside, the growing stranglehold that the self-serving medical research establishment has on funding is exemplified by their arrogance in having a website called just Research Australia (http://researchaustralia.org/). By highjacking the name "Research Australia" together with their narrow vision "a national not-for-profit alliance of organisations and companies that are committed to making health research a higher national priority" it implies that medical research is the only kind of research that should be prioritised! Shouldn't it be called Medical Research Australia or Health Research Australia?
I would also strongly disagree with Will that "Medical research is, however, the issue of the day". I would venture that the investigating and ensuring the health of our planet as exemplified by climate change research and the development of sustainable technologies are the issues of the day. Without a planet that can support our way of life we cannot support our life!
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