Member Login - Account - Logout

Science and Technology Australia
  • Home
  • About STA
    • About Us
    • Executive and governance
    • Reconciliation Action Plan
    • Policy Vision
    • Policy Wins
    • Work for us
  • News and Publications
    • Latest news
    • Submissions, reports and publications
  • Our Programs
    • Science Meets Parliament
    • Superstars of STEM
    • STEM Ambassadors
    • Parliamentary Friends of Science
    • Science Policy Fellows Alumni
    • Super STEM communicator workshops
  • Membership
    • Our Members
    • Why be a member?
    • Member Benefits Program
    • Member How-to Guides
    • Join STA
    • Login to member portal
    • Register for member portal
  • Contact
  • 2025 STA Federal Election Priorities
  • Home
  • About STA
    • About Us
    • Executive and governance
    • Reconciliation Action Plan
    • Policy Vision
    • Policy Wins
    • Work for us
  • News and Publications
    • Latest news
    • Submissions, reports and publications
  • Our Programs
    • Science Meets Parliament
    • Superstars of STEM
    • STEM Ambassadors
    • Parliamentary Friends of Science
    • Science Policy Fellows Alumni
    • Super STEM communicator workshops
  • Membership
    • Our Members
    • Why be a member?
    • Member Benefits Program
    • Member How-to Guides
    • Join STA
    • Login to member portal
    • Register for member portal
  • Contact
  • 2025 STA Federal Election Priorities
22 November 2018

Delays to ARC now worst on record

calendar lying on a table

The research sector is experiencing the longest delays to Australian Research Council (ARC) funding announcements in history [1].

Leaders of the science, technology, engineering and mathematics sector – representing tens of thousands of STEM professionals from across Australia – are meeting in Melbourne today, and have collectively called for urgent action from government to address this delay.

The ARC funding announced this year will support projects required to begin on 1 January, and researchers have turned to Twitter to share their frustrations as the window for adequate preparation closes.

I've managed to extend this back to 1999 using info from ARC Annual Reports. The correlation seems to be more of a recent phenomenon. But there's certainly a trend towards later and later announcement dates! Latest was Nov 17 in 2004. Announced on a Wednesday 42% of the time. pic.twitter.com/uWIi25jJ8y

— Daniel Creedon (@DanielCreedon) November 15, 2018

President of Science & Technology Australia, Professor Emma Johnston AO, said the delay was unacceptable and now presented a significant risk to the national interest.

“Not only will we begin to lose researchers to more secure jobs offers from overseas, but there will also be delays in project start dates,” Professor Johnston said.

“If we want to attract the best staff to keep Australian research ahead of the curve, we cannot treat them this way.”

“We have seen many women and men turn to social media to vent their frustrations, and we hope that their voices are being heeded by decision-makers.”

The hashtag #ARCdelay has gathered momentum as the delay extends further and job security becomes an urgent issue for scientists coming to the end of their funding cycle.

Imagine we have a federal election – the votes are in and counted. But the AEC withholds results to ensure the public has voted in the national interest. I'm sure our friends in Canberra would be super relaxed about their futures. This is an embarrassment #auspol #ARC #arcdelay

— Sean Coakley (@stcoakley) November 20, 2018

“We must act on this delay immediately – we need to reward researchers for their hard work and dedication,” Professor Johnston said.

“We understand the delay is due to a new ‘national interest test’ being introduced by the Minister for Education, and we feel it is unfair to retrospectively develop and implement such a test.”

“Researchers already describe the benefits of their research and align their work with National Priorities as part of their application, and this is considered as a part of the peer-reviewed assessment process.”

She says STEM leaders call on the Minister for Education to develop and implement any new ‘national interest test’ in 2019, and refrain from further delaying research funding announcements.

“This delay is having significant negative effects on people lives, and it’s grossly unfair to string them along without a clear reason for doing so.”

[1] since the ARC was made an independent body by the Australian Research Council Act 2001

Media contact: Dion Pretorius | dion.pretorius@sta.org.au | 0418 281 777

Share
advocacy Australian Research Council delay funding government policy research science technology
Previous StoryThe APS Congress – setting an event apart
Next StoryNew Executive Committee members elected at AGM

Related Articles

  • Reef photo taken from above.
    Nominations open for the STA Policy Committee and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee
  • STA welcomes review of the Australian Research Council
    STA welcomes ARC review recommendations

ABOUT US

Science & Technology Australia (STA) is Australia’s peak body in science and technology. We represent more than 235,000 scientists, engineers and technologists. STA is an influential voice for evidence and expertise in public policy.

Recent news

  • Congratulations Labor – now let’s build an Australia powered by Australian ideas
  • R&D investment a sure bet on the future
  • Budget 2025: R&D the answer to Australia’s seismic challenges

Our members

  • All Members
  • Agricultural and Food Sciences
  • Aquatic Sciences
  • Biological Sciences
  • Chemical Sciences
  • General Science and Technology
  • Geographical and Geological Sciences
  • Mathematical Sciences
  • Medical and Cognitive Sciences
  • Physical Sciences
  • Plant and Ecological Sciences
  • Technological Sciences

Search for news

Most popular

  • #MarchForward for ALL Women and Girls
  • APS cuts threaten Australia’s future
  • Celebrating Science Meets Parliament’s silver jubilee
  • Bold thinking at ARC welcomed by scientists and technologists
  • Budget 2025: R&D the answer to Australia’s seismic challenges

Sign up to our newsletter

Science and Technology Australia Limited (STA) (ACN 664 679 056 and ABN 71 626 822 845) is a company limited by guarantee. STA was formerly known as Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies Inc and was authorised under section 82 of the Associations Incorporation Act 1991 (ACT) to transfer its registration under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) to its new company structure on 3 January 2023.

STA PRIVACY POLICY

OTHER STA POLICIES

ACNC Registered Charity Logo
  • Home
  • News and media releases
  • Become a member
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

Copyright © 2024 Science & Technology Australia. All Rights Reserved