Full Universities Australia Logo Universities Australia Logo
Study in Australia
  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Board
    • Our Staff
    • History
    • Career Opportunities
  • Facts & Publications
    • Student Statistics
    • Staff Statistics
    • University & Funding Statistics
    • Publications
  • Policy & Submissions
    • Submissions
    • Keep it clever
    • Teaching, Learning & Funding
    • Research & Innovation
    • International
    • Diversity & Equity
    • Safety & Wellbeing
    • Health
    • Copyright
  • Campaigns & Projects
  • Our universities
    • University Profiles
    • Teaching Calendar
    • University Contacts
    • University Startup Hubs
    • Student Safety – Contacts
    • 2022 Floods
  • Media
  • Events
  • Contact
Study in Australia
©2022
Site by ED.

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
Media Release 30 October 2018

UNIVERSITY LEADERS CONDEMN POLITICAL VETO ON RESEARCH GRANTS

The leaders of Australia’s 39 universities condemn the decision of former Education Minister Simon Birmingham to veto 11 research projects recommended for funding by the Australian Research Council.

Vice-Chancellors and their delegates today said the decision undermined confidence in the nation’s research funding system and sent exactly the wrong message to the global research community.

These highly competitive grants are judged by panels of the most eminent experts in each field of research, through a lengthy and rigorous process to determine which projects receive funds.

Expert review is the cornerstone of merit-based research systems around the world. It ensures that taxpayer funds are spent wisely on the best research across all fields of endeavour. This also ensures Australia remains at the forefront of global research advances.

A Ministerial veto decision in the research grants system erodes global confidence in Australia’s research program and our reputation for research excellence.

Such a veto also undermines academic freedom, by opening the door to any Minister deciding they don’t like a research topic – irrespective of its merits – that could transform knowledge in a field.

The Higher Education Support Act obliges every university to have a policy that upholds free intellectual inquiry in teaching, learning and research. There is an irony in the Minister responsible for that Act breaching that same principle by exercising such a veto.

It is particularly disappointing to note that all 11 vetoed projects were in the humanities – which receives the smallest amount of funding by far of all the fields of research.

These researchers have suffered damage to their careers, missed out on professional opportunities and, in some cases, have now been lost to Australia because they have been recruited by universities overseas.

This veto has also endangered the reputation and trust in the work of the highly-esteemed Australian Research Council, one of the nation’s major research funding agencies.

ARC staff have also been placed in the invidious position of having to give feedback to applicants whose projects were recommended for funding but then vetoed – without a public explanation from the Minister.

We urge the Government to mitigate the damage to these researchers and Australia’s research integrity by reversing the veto on these 11 grants – and committing to follow expert advice in future.

Related Media

See All Media
media-item
Media Release
17 August 2022

More university places to skill-up more Australians

Universities Australia welcomes the Government’s allocation of 20,000 additional university places to tackle skill shortages and give more people from under-represented backgrounds the chance to go to university.

Read more
media-item
Media Release
15 August 2022

Mitacs and Universities Australia sign renewed agreement allowing for expanded mobility opportunities

Vancouver, BC – Mitacs and Universities Australia are proud to announce that they have signed a renewed agreement, allowing for expanded research collaborations and mobility opportunities between the two countries.

Read more
media-item
Media Release
15 August 2022

Onshore vaccine manufacturing hub key to Australia’s wellbeing

Today’s announcement by the Prime Minister that an onshore vaccine manufacturing hub will be created at Monash University is critical to advancing Australia’s response to future health outbreaks and strengthening our sovereign capability.

Read more
See All Media
Universities Australia Logo
Study in Australia

Popular Search Terms

  • Business & Community
  • Careers & Staffing
  • Indigenous
  • International
  • Resources & Regulation
  • Quality Assurance
  • Governance
  • Research
  • Students & Teaching
  • Student Income Support
  • Teaching Calendar
©2022
Site by ED.
Universities Australia Logo
Study in Australia

Sign up

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
©2022
Site by ED.
Universities Australia Logo


Australian Aboriginal Flag Flag of the Torres Strait Islanders

Quick Links

  • Home
  • About
  • Facts & Publications
  • Policy & Submissions
  • Campaigns & Projects
  • Our universities
  • Media
  • Events
  • Contact

Get in touch

  • 1 Geils Court
  • Deakin ACT 2600
  • T: +61 2 6285 8100

Follow Us

  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
©2022 - Site by ED.
Legal
Study in Australia
Site Index