鈥淎ustralia鈥檚 research system is one of the best in the world, and it鈥檚 in our national interest that it stays that way,鈥 黑料老司机 Chief Executive Catriona Jackson said.
鈥淭o remain at the forefront of global research advances, Australia needs a system with strong governance, robust peer review and genuine transparency at its core. The Australian Research Council is fundamental to this system.鈥
The submission offers a range of recommendations, addressing:
- the Haldane Principle 鈥 a principle that ensures decisions on individual proposals be made by researchers themselves through peer review 鈥 and the ministerial veto
- governance of the ARC
- structures and staffing
- national interest test
- national security in research, and
- grant success rates.
鈥淭hese functions underpin the critical work of our researchers and will help take Australia鈥檚 research to new levels 鈥 generating even greater social and economic gains for our nation,鈥 Ms Jackson said.
鈥淔or every dollar invested in research and development, five dollars is returned to the economy. It鈥檚 an economic no brainer to ensure the research system is strong.
鈥淲e can鈥檛 afford to have a research system which falls short of backing the best and brightest people and their ideas 鈥 ideas that have gone on to change lives, solve challenges and deliver breakthroughs.
鈥淩ecent changes to the national interest test, which re-establish a system that assesses grants on merit and peer review, is a step in the right direction to bolster confidence amongst our valued researchers.
鈥淓xpert review is the cornerstone of merit-based research systems, ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely on the best research across all fields of endeavour.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we鈥檙e urging the government to remove ministerial veto on projects recommended by the ARC.
鈥淭here is more work to be done, and we will continue to work with the government through the review process and beyond, to ensure Australia reaps the benefits from an internationally competitive, robust research system.鈥
