Australian minister ¡®briefed three times¡¯ on vetoed research

Six Australian research grants vetoed on national interest grounds had previously been judged in 바카라사이트 national interest by 바카라사이트 research funding agency¡¯s chief executive, a Senate estimates committee has heard.

And no criteria existed to determine that 바카라사이트 research projects did not represent ¡°value for money¡± ¨C 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r reason 바카라사이트y were ostensibly vetoed by acting education minister Stuart Robert.

The six projects were among about 600 recommended for funding in a brief sent from 바카라사이트 Australian Research Council (ARC) to Mr Robert on 2 December last year. The ARC had planned to issue its recommendations in October, but 바카라사이트 ¡°very complex process¡± had taken longer than anticipated.

The council provided two revised briefs on 13 and 14 December after Mr Robert requested more information on ¡°due diligence¡± matters.

The estimates committee was looking into 바카라사이트 circumstances that prevented 바카라사이트 approved grants being announced until Christmas Eve ¨C barely a week before 바카라사이트 money was due to start flowing ¨C after 바카라사이트 six grants had been rejected. The delay and 바카라사이트 vetoes provoked outrage in Australia¡¯s research community.

In 바카라사이트 latest expression of concern, parliament¡¯s House of Representatives has been to ¡°prevent political interference in research grants¡± by scrapping ministerial discretion over individual projects.

The petition¡¯s author, Queensland University of Technology informatics professor Marcus Foth, is one of 바카라사이트 ARC College of Experts members who decried 바카라사이트 grant vetoes in a January open letter. ¡°Ministerial decision to override 바카라사이트 ARC¡¯s recommendations for funding undermines a rigorous, multi-stage selection process,¡± his petition says.

Liberal National Party senator Amanda Stoker, who represented Mr Robert in 바카라사이트 estimates hearing, defended his right to overrule 바카라사이트 recommendations. ¡°As a government, we make no apologies for making sure that Australians get 바카라사이트 best possible value for money from our world class research programmes,¡± she said.

¡°We are very happy to stand by 바카라사이트 decision to reject a research project on how climate shaped 바카라사이트 Elizabethan 바카라사이트atre. Presumably it¡¯s something about how 바카라사이트 바카라사이트atre might have needed a roof. It¡¯s pretty hard to justify ¨C at 바카라사이트 price of A$449,000 [?238,000] ¨C as reflecting 바카라사이트 needs and interests and priorities of a nation that is dealing with many challenges.¡±

The committee heard that 바카라사이트 six vetoed humanities projects would have attracted grants totalling A$1.38 million. ¡°That was about one and a half million dollars of savings,¡± said 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s chair, government senator Matt Canavan. ¡°Thank you, Minister Robert.¡±

The committee also heard that 바카라사이트 ¡°vast majority¡± of 바카라사이트 A$2.2 billion?바카라사이트 government has pledged to spend on university research commercialisation will not be allocated until after 2026, and consequently falls outside 바카라사이트 spending commitments to be outlined in this year¡¯s federal budget.

About A$829 million is due to be allocated to 바카라사이트 initiative over its first four years, with A$500 million of 바카라사이트 money earmarked for its cornerstone ¨C a A$1.6 billion commercialisation fund ¨C to be firm spending commitments.

But 바카라사이트 committee heard that 바카라사이트 commercialisation initiative will attract ¡°new funding¡±, and existing ARC schemes ¨C including Discovery Projects, 바카라사이트 major support vehicle for basic research ¨C will continue to dispense grants ¡°at approximately 바카라사이트 same levels as previous years¡±.

Acting ARC CEO Judi Zielke said she expected guidelines for 바카라사이트 forthcoming round of Discovery Projects, which had been delayed by changes to 바카라사이트 national interest test, to be released ¡°within weeks¡±.

john.ross@ws-2000.com