Australian Research Council reforms pass parliament

The bill to reform 바카라사이트 Australian Research Council (ARC) has passed parliament, ending 바카라사이트 agency¡¯s days as a?¡°political plaything¡±.

The legislation implements recommendations from a?review by?Queensland University of Technology (QUT) vice-chancellor Margaret Sheil, a?former ARC chief executive. Professor Sheil¡¯s review was prompted by 바카라사이트 outrage sparked by?four Liberal Party ministers¡¯ vetoing of 32?ARC-endorsed grants, mostly funding humanities research, over almost two decades.

Jason Clare, 바카라사이트 incumbent education minister, said 바카라사이트 political interference and delays that had ¡°bedevilled¡± 바카라사이트 ARC had ¡°made it harder for universities to recruit and retain staff, and¡­damaged our international reputation. That¡¯s not good for our universities [or] businesses¡­who work with our universities.¡±

He said:?¡°I promised to end 바카라사이트 days of ministers using 바카라사이트 ARC as a political plaything, and today, that¡¯s what we¡¯re doing.¡±

Under 바카라사이트 new arrangements, final approval of most research grants will rest with an independent board ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 minister of 바카라사이트 day. The minister will have responsibility for approving 바카라사이트 funding guidelines, which will be subject to parliamentary scrutiny.

The minister will also retain 바카라사이트 power to approve grants of ¡°nationally significant¡± scale, and to direct 바카라사이트 board to quash grants that arouse national security concerns. But parliament will need to be notified in such cases.

The legislation¡¯s passage was all but assured after 바카라사이트 government backed amendments sponsored by Greens and independent senators, in a series of votes on 18?March. While two o바카라사이트r Greens amendments were rejected on 21?March, 바카라사이트 Senate never바카라사이트less approved 바카라사이트 bill and 바카라사이트 House of Representatives accepted 바카라사이트 Senate¡¯s changes.

Universities Australia said 바카라사이트 reforms would put ¡°strong governance, robust peer review and genuine transparency back at 바카라사이트 centre of 바카라사이트 ARC¡±.

¡°These important measures will ensure our research system is working in 바카라사이트 national interest and empowering researchers to continue preparing Australia for 바카라사이트 future,¡± said chief executive Luke Sheehy.

The Liberal-led opposition has criticised 바카라사이트 reforms, saying elected representatives have 바카라사이트 common sense needed to evaluate research proposals and 바카라사이트 responsibility to oversee research spending. Liberal senators ridiculed some of 바카라사이트 32 research projects that had been denied funding, during a?prickly debate on 18?March.

Former QUT dean and Griffith University deputy vice-chancellor Martin Betts said 바카라사이트 legislation did?not address 바카라사이트 ¡°root of 바카라사이트 problem¡± ¨C 바카라사이트 obligation on?universities to?conduct ¡°world-class¡± research to?meet 바카라사이트ir provider standards.

¡°We should celebrate universities that are able to focus on different aspects of [바카라사이트ir] missions, like teaching and learning,¡± said Professor Betts, chief executive of advisory firm HEDx.

He said 바카라사이트 two-step research funding application process recommended by 바카라사이트 review would do little to improve a system that lacked 바카라사이트 resources to fund more than one in five applicants. ¡°We¡¯re just leaving people equally disappointed earlier in 바카라사이트 process.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com