EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Medical Research Future Fund Act 2015
Australian Medical Research and Innovation Priorities 2020-2022
Authority
Section 32E of the Medical Research Future Fund Act 2015 (the MRFF Act) provides that the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board (AMRAB) must determine the Australian Medical Research and Innovation Priorities (the Priorities). The Act determines that the Priorities are in force for two years and that subsequent Priorities must be determined and in force as soon as the current Priorities cease to be in force.
Purpose
In accordance with the MRFF Act, the Australian Government must take into account the Priorities that are in force at the time of making disbursements from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF). The Advisory Board has constructed the Priorities as a document that should be read and considered in conjunction with the Australian Medical Research and Innovation Strategy 2016-2021 (the Strategy), also required by the Act, as there is alignment with the identified strategic platforms.
Background
The MRFF was established under the MRFF Act to provide financial assistance to support health and medical research and innovation, with the objective of improving the health and wellbeing of Australians.
The first disbursements from the MRFF were made in the 2016-17 financial year by the Australian Government following consideration of the inaugural Strategy and Priorities.
The Advisory Board currently comprises of:
- Professor Ian Frazer AC (Chair)
- Mr Yasser El-Ansary
- Dr Deborah Rathjen
- Professor Karen Reynolds
- Ms Jennifer Williams AM
- Professor Anne Kelso AO
In developing the next set of Priorities, the Advisory Board has taken into consideration:
a) the burden of disease on the Australian community;
b) how to deliver practical benefits from medical research and medical innovation to as many Australians as possible;
c) how to ensure that financial assistance provided under this Act provides the greatest value for all Australians;
d) how to ensure that financial assistance provided under this Act complements and enhances other financial assistance provided for medical research and medical innovation; and
e) other relevant matters.
Details
The Priorities guide the provision of financial assistance from the MRFF. Program level funding decisions, informed by the Priorities are proposed by the Australian Minister for Health through the Budget process.
The Priorities must be consistent with the Strategy that is in force. The Priorities have been organised according to the overarching strategic platforms identified in the Strategy.
The Priorities that are in force are published on the Department of Health’s Medical Research Future Fund website.
Consultation
Section 32EA of the Act requires the Advisory Board to consult with organisations with expertise in medical research and innovation, organisations that represent consumers who benefit from health and medical research and innovation, and any other person or organisation.
These Priorities have been developed following extensive national consultation with consumers, healthcare providers, researchers, organisations and individuals. The consultation process included a call for written submissions and several public webinars.
The consultation process commenced on 9 September 2020 with the release of a Consultation Guide and opening of an online submission process. Two public webinars were also held to inform the consultation. The Advisory Board engaged with more than 500 people and organisations through this consultation process, including receiving approximately 250 submissions from a range of interested parties including peak bodies, universities, medical research institutions, clinicians and consumers.
The submissions and feedback received through the consultation process were considered in the development of the Priorities.
The Priorities commence the day after registration on the Federal Register of Legislation.
The Priorities is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislation Act 2003.
Overview
The Medical Research Future Fund Act 2015 was enacted to establish the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) with the primary objective of providing financial assistance to support health and medical research and innovation, thereby improving the health and wellbeing of Australians. This Act was introduced to address a gap in funding for medical research and innovation, aiming to ensure that the financial assistance provided complements and enhances other financial assistance. The Australian Government is mandated to take into account the Australian Medical Research and Innovation Priorities when making disbursements from the MRFF, as stipulated in section 32E of the Act. The Australian Medical Research Advisory Board (AMRAB) is responsible for determining these priorities, which are published on the Department of Health’s Medical Research Future Fund website. Extensive consultation with various stakeholders, including consumers, healthcare providers, researchers, and organisations, has informed the development of these priorities, ensuring they reflect the burden of disease and the practical benefits of medical research and innovation to the Australian community.
Scope and Application
The Australian Medical Research Future Fund Act 2015, as outlined in the explanatory statement, mandates that the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board (AMRAB) determine the Australian Medical Research and Innovation Priorities (the Priorities) for a two-year period. These Priorities must be consistent with the Australian Medical Research and Innovation Strategy 2016-2021 and guide the disbursement of funds from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF). The MRFF, established under the Act, aims to provide financial assistance for health and medical research and innovation to enhance the health and wellbeing of Australians. The Advisory Board, comprising experts in the field, develops the Priorities after extensive consultation with stakeholders including consumers, healthcare providers, researchers, and various organisations. These consultations ensure the Priorities address the burden of disease, deliver practical benefits, and maximise the value of financial assistance provided. The Priorities are legally binding as a legislative instrument, and the Act stipulates that the Australian Government must consider them when making disbursements from the MRFF. The geographic reach of this legislation is national, applying across Australia, and it extends to entities and individuals involved in health and medical research and innovation. Any exclusions or exemptions are not specified in the explanatory statement, but the Act’s application may be further detailed in subordinate instruments.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of the Medical Research Future Fund Act 2015 (MRFF Act) (section 32E) require the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board (AMRAB) to determine the Australian Medical Research and Innovation Priorities (the Priorities). These Priorities are in force for two years and must be updated as soon as the current Priorities cease to be in force. This legislative mandate ensures that the Australian Government takes into account the Priorities when making disbursements from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) to support health and medical research and innovation.
The Act imposes several obligations on AMRAB, including the requirement to consult with various stakeholders such as organisations with expertise in medical research and innovation, consumer groups, and other interested parties. This was evidenced by the extensive national consultation process that included a call for written submissions, public webinars, and engagement with over 500 people and organisations, receiving approximately 250 submissions from a diverse range of stakeholders. The feedback from these consultations informs the development of the Priorities, ensuring they align with the Australian Medical Research and Innovation Strategy 2016-2021.
The MRFF Act also delineates specific criteria that AMRAB must consider when determining the Priorities. These include the burden of disease on the Australian community, the potential to deliver practical benefits from medical research and innovation, ensuring that financial assistance provides the greatest value for all Australians, and ensuring that the assistance complements and enhances other funding for medical research and innovation. Additionally, the Priorities must be consistent with the Strategy in force and must be published on the Department of Health’s Medical Research Future Fund website.
For breach of the obligations and requirements set out in the MRFF Act, there are potential civil or criminal consequences. However, the Explanatory Statement does not specify the exact offences, penalties, or consequences for non-compliance. The Act’s focus remains on ensuring that the MRFF’s financial assistance is directed towards strategic platforms that promise the greatest benefit for Australians, guided by well-consulted and carefully considered priorities.