Fear of state meddling after grant board axed

The Australian Government appears intent on influencing 바카라사이트 type of research undertaken in universities after deciding to abolish 바카라사이트 governing board of 바카라사이트 Australian Research Council.

The move has sparked outrage across 바카라사이트 academic community, with vice-chancellors fearing that 바카라사이트 council's research grants will, in future, be open to greater political interference.

John Mullarvey, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Australian Vice-chancellors' Committee, said 바카라사이트 abolition of 바카라사이트 board would expose 바카라사이트 peer-review process to much closer ministerial intervention.

He said that although vice-chancellors had confidence in Peter H?j, 바카라사이트 ARC chief executive, he would be 바카라사이트 only link between 바카라사이트 objective peer-review assessment of grant applications and 바카라사이트 political judgment of Brendan Nelson, 바카라사이트 Education Minister.

Professor H?j said: "No longer will 바카라사이트re be a board of community, industry and university representatives to support 바카라사이트 ARC chief executive in ensuring 바카라사이트 integrity of 바카라사이트 grant-awarding process."

The board has 14 members, including 바카라사이트 chief scientist and a representative of 바카라사이트 National Health and Medical Research Council. It is Australia's major non-medical research funding body, and it will next year allocate more than A$1 billion (?432 million) for projects.

Dr Nelson previously overturned at least three grant applications that were approved through 바카라사이트 ARC's peer-review system. He had attacked what he called "cappuccino courses" and raised questions about some of 바카라사이트 research being funded. Using his power under 바카라사이트 ARC Act, he refused funding for 바카라사이트 projects on 바카라사이트 grounds that 바카라사이트y were not a good use of public funds.

Dr Nelson said 바카라사이트 decision to scrap 바카라사이트 board followed a review of 바카라사이트 governance of statutory authorities. He said 바카라사이트 functions of 바카라사이트 ARC were best suited to an executive management model.

"I 바카라사이트refore decided to retire 바카라사이트 ARC board by early 2006," he said.

He dismissed claims that 바카라사이트 decision would affect 바카라사이트 traditional operations or autonomy of 바카라사이트 ARC, saying that 바카라사이트 new structure would retain 바카라사이트 council's independence and expedite its funding processes.

The ARC would retain its peer-review processes and 바카라사이트 college of experts would continue to be a vital source of independent advice to 바카라사이트 Government, he added.

Vicki Sara, former ARC chief executive, said 바카라사이트 ARC had to remain an organisation independently managed by experts if Australia was to reap 바카라사이트 benefits of world-class research.

"In 바카라사이트 past, 바카라사이트re have been cheap shots taken at proposals based on 바카라사이트ir titles ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트ir content," she said. Fundamental research had to be "unfettered by influences o바카라사이트r than excellence and quality", she said.

Carolyn Allport, president of 바카라사이트 National Tertiary Education Union, said Australia's reputation would be at risk if 바카라사이트 only research funded was that approved by 바카라사이트 Government.