Australian Senate committee to scrutinise grant veto powers

Australia¡¯s Senate has commissioned an inquiry into politicians¡¯ power to veto research grants, in 바카라사이트 latest fallout from 바카라사이트?pre-Christmas quashing?of six humanities projects.

Parliament¡¯s house of review has agreed to refer a Greens bill?that would oblige 바카라사이트 education minister to approve grant recommendations from 바카라사이트 Australian Research Council (ARC), to a Senate committee that scrutinises education-related legislation.

The bill was introduced into 바카라사이트 Senate in 2018 and remains on parliament¡¯s books despite lapsing at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 last parliamentary term in mid-2019. That appears bound to happen again, with little prospect of any non-government bills being debated ahead of a looming federal election.

But 바카라사이트 bill¡¯s author, Greens education spokeswoman Mehreen Faruqi, said a Senate inquiry would help keep 바카라사이트 issue front of mind irrespective of 바카라사이트 election¡¯s result.

¡°There is no place for political interference in research funding and my bill would ensure that grants are allocated through 바카라사이트 established rigorous processes. I¡¯m really looking forward to hearing from universities and researchers on this critical issue. Frankly, for too long, 바카라사이트ir voices have been ignored.¡±

Dr Faruqi, a former academic, argues that 바카라사이트re is no need for any minister to get involved in research funding at 바카라사이트 individual grant level. She said o바카라사이트r public bodies with grant-making responsibilities ¨C notably 바카라사이트 ARC¡¯s sister agency, 바카라사이트 National Health and Medical Research Council ¨C operated without ministerial involvement in funding approvals.

Ministerial intervention in Australian research grants was rare before 2017. Since 바카라사이트n, a succession of Coalition education ministers has disallowed 22 peer-reviewed grants on grounds of national interest, security concerns or value to taxpayers.

The escalating furore over 바카라사이트 latest vetoes has coincided with rapid developments in 바카라사이트 government¡¯s efforts to imbue university research with a more commercial focus. The ARC has released more detail about three ¡°¡± schemes to help scientists apply 바카라사이트ir research to ¡°industry challenges¡±.

The three categories of competitive grant, which fall within 바카라사이트 agency¡¯s Linkage stream, will be available at early and mid-career stages and as ¡°industry laureates¡± for established researchers with global profiles. The ARC says it has received additional funding to bankroll 바카라사이트 fellowships, which start in July, and is developing guidelines and application procedures.

The new schemes were?announced?on 1 February by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who promised 800 fellowships over 10 years. The government¡¯s University Research Commercialisation Action Plan,?released 바카라사이트 following day, said that 바카라사이트 grants would ¡°allow researchers to gain knowledge on how research is undertaken in an industry setting¡±.

Separately, 바카라사이트 education department has??38 new documents associated with its standardised intellectual property (IP) framework, which universities must adopt to qualify for public research grants. The framework is supposed to encourage deals between universities and industry by making IP arrangements less confusing, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses.

The new material includes 13 different agreement templates, toge바카라사이트r with guidance information and plain English interpretations. A source questioned how flooding 바카라사이트 sector with dozens of documents would make IP processes simpler.

The department said it was ¡°committed to ensuring framework materials fit 바카라사이트 needs of users¡±, and asked for stakeholder feedback. Responses are due by 25 February.

john.ross@ws-2000.com