鈥淎ustralia has long benefitted from having one of the world鈥檚 best research systems 鈥 keeping it that way is in the nation鈥檚 best interest,鈥 黑料老司机 Chief Executive Catriona Jackson said.
鈥淎 strong and independent Australian Research Council is central to this.
鈥淲e are best served by a system with strong governance, peer review and genuine transparency at its core and we are pleased that the recommendations to government support these needs.
鈥淧ast interventions have eroded confidence in our research program and our reputation for research excellence. We have an opportunity now to right those wrongs.
鈥淭he panel has acknowledged this and backed a rigorous process with the establishment of an ARC Board with decision-making power on grant funding in response to merit-based recommendations.
鈥淭he panel has struck the right balance in limiting the 鈥榤inisterial veto power鈥 for use only when national security is concerned 鈥 with an appropriate level of transparency.
鈥淯niversities are partners of government in supporting Australia鈥檚 interests and this is no exception.
鈥淎ustralia is in a period of uncertainty. Our ability to navigate what鈥檚 in front of us hinges on our capacity to undertake world-class research 鈥 from tackling the energy transition to supporting AUKUS.
鈥淭he expert panel, led by Professor Margaret Sheil with Professors Mark Hutchinson and Susan Dodds, has provided a path forward for the ARC and we look forward to a favourable government response.
鈥淲e thank the panel for its hard work in preparing and delivering this report and look forward to engaging with government to support our research future.鈥
