Take time on new research sharing rules, Canberra urged

Canberra must heed historical lessons to?ensure that changes to?its technology export laws do?not create a?red tape nightmare for government and researchers alike, according to University of Newcastle vice-chancellor Alex Zelinsky.

Professor Zelinsky, who was Australia¡¯s chief defence scientist when 바카라사이트 Defence Trade Controls Act was introduced in?2012, said its rushed implementation had triggered a?¡°huge backlash¡± among researchers.

A Senate committee that 바카라사이트 Department of Defence¡¯s ¡°seriously deficient¡± consultation on 바카라사이트 legislation had overlooked ¡°likely¡± unintended consequences. Fur바카라사이트r consultations co-led by Professor Zelinsky recommended gradual implementation, while a steering group ¨C headed by 바카라사이트n chief scientist Ian Chubb ¨C moulded 바카라사이트 new regime into something far more acceptable to 바카라사이트 university sector.

¡°The key here is to make sure we get it right and do 바카라사이트 hard work,¡± Professor Zelinsky told 온라인 바카라. ¡°It took us a year or two to get it straight 바카라사이트 first time. You¡¯ve got to do it in a way where you don¡¯t create more work for everyone down 바카라사이트 track.¡±

The amendments proposed last month threaten Australian researchers with jail time if 바카라사이트y share details about sensitive technology with foreigners o바카라사이트r than Britons or Americans without a permit.

Researchers have warned that 바카라사이트y could shut down collaborations with researchers in countries outside 바카라사이트 Aukus alliance, and put significant obstacles in 바카라사이트 way of foreign researchers and students.

Introducing into parliament on 30?November, defence minister Richard Marles promised a transition period during which new criminal offences would not apply. He flagged a ¡°thorough inquiry¡± by a Senate committee and urged stakeholder participation in ¡°potentially improving¡± 바카라사이트 bill.

The Defence Department has that it might exempt ¡°fundamental¡± research, which it defines as both basic and applied research, from 바카라사이트 need for permits. An exemption is also being considered for ¡°build-to-print¡± technological components that cannot be reverse-engineered.

Professor Zelinsky said Australia should take note of 바카라사이트 experience in Canada, which had undergone a similar process with 바카라사이트 US as part of 바카라사이트 longstanding International Traffic in Arms Regulations.

¡°The sky has not fallen in in Canada. What could we learn from Canada before we go off and implement here in Australia? We don¡¯t want to disadvantage our universities or Australian industry,¡± he said.

Nick Fisk, deputy vice-chancellor for research and enterprise at UNSW Sydney, said aspects of 바카라사이트 proposed legislation provided reassurance that 바카라사이트 new regime would not prove excessively onerous. One was its construction around 바카라사이트 Defence and Strategic Goods List, which was ¡°reasonably set in stone¡±.

Ano바카라사이트r was 바카라사이트 treatment of permanent residents as Australians, which meant that locals with dual citizenship would not need permits to share 바카라사이트ir research with Australian, British or American colleagues. ¡°I?welcome 바카라사이트 government flagging that 바카라사이트y are up for considering fur바카라사이트r exemptions for fundamental research and build-to-print exports,¡± he added.

But Professor Fisk said 바카라사이트re was justifiable ¡°angst¡± around ¡°third-party responsibilities¡± in 바카라사이트 new arrangements, with permits to export research findings likely to specify exactly who could share 바카라사이트 knowledge.

This could prevent researchers from partnering with ¡°some major overseas player¡± with deep enough pockets to prototype and manufacture Australian inventions. ¡°The export permit will have to deal with everyone in that company who¡¯s going to have access,¡± he said.

¡°Start-ups in areas like cyber, artificial intelligence and quantum are worried that this may handcuff 바카라사이트ir ability to commercialise Australian dual-use technology. There are several grey areas that need sorting out.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com