Member Login - Account - Logout

Science and Technology Australia
  • Home
  • About STA
    • Who is STA?
    • Our history
    • Alliances and Partnerships
    • Board and Executive
    • Governance
    • Work for us
    • Reconciliation Action Plan
    • Policy Vision
    • Policy Wins
  • News and Publications
    • Latest news
    • Reports and publications
  • Our Programs
    • Science Meets Parliament
    • Parliamentary Friends of Science
    • Superstars of STEM
    • Science Policy Fellows Alumni
    • Super STEM communicator workshop
    • STEM Ambassadors
  • Events
    • Science Meets Parliament 2023
  • Membership
    • Our Members
    • Why be a member?
    • Member Benefits Program
    • Join STA
    • Member How-to Guides
    • Login to member portal
    • Register for member portal
  • Contact
    • Media
  • Home
  • About STA
    • Who is STA?
    • Our history
    • Alliances and Partnerships
    • Board and Executive
    • Governance
    • Work for us
    • Reconciliation Action Plan
    • Policy Vision
    • Policy Wins
  • News and Publications
    • Latest news
    • Reports and publications
  • Our Programs
    • Science Meets Parliament
    • Parliamentary Friends of Science
    • Superstars of STEM
    • Science Policy Fellows Alumni
    • Super STEM communicator workshop
    • STEM Ambassadors
  • Events
    • Science Meets Parliament 2023
  • Membership
    • Our Members
    • Why be a member?
    • Member Benefits Program
    • Join STA
    • Member How-to Guides
    • Login to member portal
    • Register for member portal
  • Contact
    • Media
16 November 2018

Funding delays and national interest test – not in the national interest

Australian flag

Reports of departing researchers, increased job insecurity, and a lack of time for planning are threatening the national interest according to Australia’s peak body for science and technology.

ARC Discovery Projects and Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards are usually awarded in late October or early November, and the delays this year mean researchers are still awaiting a decision.

Now, universities and research institutes are considering their options, as contracts are renegotiated and funding from previous projects begins to run out.

President of Science & Technology Australia, Professor Emma Johnston AO, said the ARC had submitted their recommendations some time ago, and were awaiting Ministerial approvals which had been delayed by the introduction of a new ‘national interest test’.

“Australia’s research funding system is world leading, fundamentally relying on experts to assess applications each year for quality and potential, national interest, and depth of approach,” Professor Johnston explained.

“Only around 15% of applications are funded, as it is an extremely competitive, complex and comprehensive process.”

She said Australian researchers were amongst the most productive, efficient and highest impact of any researchers in the world.

“The Minister has thrown a spanner in the works. Researchers submitted their detailed grant applications in February and they responded to expert peer-review feedback in June. So more than 9 months after their application went in – they are still waiting to hear the outcome for research projects that are meant to begin in January.”

“Science & Technology Australia is hearing stories from across the country that for some researchers, this insecurity and uncertainty is proving to be the last straw.”

She said the delays meant researchers would be unable to prepare for their projects and would likely need to begin work on writing new grant applications for 2019 – a waste of time if they are successful this year.

“Researchers are in limbo and are unable to work towards the prosperity of the nation, unable to do what they do best – research,” she said.

“We train hard, and then we work hard in the national interest every day; we can only look on in confusion as the political process obstructs our progress.”

“This delay, and the stalling of important Australian research, is a threat to our national interest.”

The proposed change announced by the Minister for Education, Dan Tehan, follows the revelation in Senate Estimates that the former Education Minister, Senator Simon Birmingham, rejected recommendations for funding of 11 projects through the ARC.

“Australia’s researchers push the boundaries of knowledge every day in the quest to solve some of the toughest issues facing our world,” Professor Johnston said.

“We are calling on the government to expedite the process so that out solution makers can get on with their important work.”

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

Share
australia Dan Tehan government national interest research science Simon Birmingham technology threat
Previous StoryRegional higher education an important piece of the research puzzle
Next StoryScience gender pay gap too wide and job insecurity persists: new report

Related Articles

  • 2022 STEM Ambassadors program open
    Step up as a STEM Ambassador
  • Join us for the launch of National Science Week 2021
    Australians back science and scientists to lead recovery

ABOUT US

Science & Technology Australia (STA) is Australia’s peak body in science and technology. We represent more than 115,000 scientists and technologists. STA is an influential voice for evidence and expertise in public policy.

Recent news

  • Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic’s National Press Club address – Science Meets Parliament 2023
  • Win up to $100,000 investment to commercialise your clean agri-food technology
  • Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic’s Welcome speech to Science Meets Parliament 2023

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

  • SMP 2023 scholarships: open now
  • STA backs Voice to Parliament
  • Nine scoop a scholarship to Science Meets Parliament
  • A science future fund to supercharge economic growth: Budget 2023
  • Win up to $100,000 investment to commercialise your clean agri-food technology

Sign up to our newsletter

STA PRIVACY POLICY

OTHER STA POLICIES

Twitter feed

  • RT @sooJeeBee: Thank you Serena Williams and family for your deadly welcome to Ngunnawal country and President of @ScienceAU @prof_hutchins…
  • RT @cosmicpudding: Ready and waiting for our #smp2023 meeting with @Josh4Freo! Looking forward to discussing #science, #astronomy and the f…
  • RT @harisazizk: Meeting with Education minister @JasonClareMP, on ARC, pathways for ECRs & other issues. @tiahnijade @ScienceAU #smp2023…
  • Finding out about forging a new golden era of science at #ScienceMeetsParliament - @ScienceAU President… https://t.co/T7nfDABg3c
Follow us

Science and Technology Australia Limited (ACN 664 679 056 and ABN 71 626 822 845) (STA) 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.

Registered charity logo
Click here for more info
  • HOME
  • News and media releases
  • Become a member
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

Copyright © 2023 Science & Technology Australia. All Rights Reserved