EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Medical Research Future Fund Act 2015
Australian Medical Research and Innovation Strategy 2021-2026 Determination 2021
Authority
Section 32D of the Medical Research Future Fund Act 2015 (MRFF Act) provides that the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board (Advisory Board) must determine the Australian Medical Research and Innovation Strategy (Strategy).
The Strategy is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislation Act 2003. However, section 42 of the Legislation Act 2003 relating to disallowance does not apply (subsection 32D(6) of the MRFF Act refers).
Section 32D(1) of the MRFF Act requires the Strategy to be determined by the Advisory Board that is comprised of members with appropriate experience or knowledge in specified scientific and technical fields (section 32G(2) of the MRFF Act refers). Additionally, section 32EA of the MRFF Act requires that the Advisory Board provide a consultation process, where organisations with expertise in medical research or medical innovation and organisations representing consumers who benefit from medical research and innovation are consulted to inform the development of the Strategy. As such, disallowance does not apply to the instrument made under paragraph 32D(1) of the MRFF Act, due to the development of the instrument being based on technical and scientific expertise and public consultations.
Further, the Strategy ensures that a coherent and consistent approach is adopted in providing financial assistance under the MRFF for five years (section 32D(1) and 32D(4) of the Act refer). If the Strategy was to be subject to disallowance, this would impact of the forward planning of the health and medical research sector as the Strategy informs decisions to make grants of financial assistance available to the sector.
The Strategy commences the day after registration on the Federal Register of Legislation.
Purpose
The purpose of the Australian Medical Research and Innovation Strategy 2021-2026 (the 2021-26 Strategy) is to ensure that a coherent and consistent approach is adopted in providing financial assistance under the MRFF. It sets out the vision, aims and objectives for the MRFF.
The 2021-26 Strategy proposes four strategic objectives that can be realised through priority-driven investment, and collaborative research, innovation and translation.
The 2021-26 Strategy will inform the development of new Australian Medical Research and Innovation Priorities during the period in which the 2021-26 Strategy is current.
Background
The MRFF was established to provide financial assistance to support health and medical research and innovation, with the objective of improving the health and wellbeing of Australians.
The current Advisory Board was appointed on 11 September 2021 and comprises of:
- Professor Ian Frazer AC (Chair)
- Professor Caroline Homer AO (Deputy Chair)
- Professor Tom Calma AO
- Professor Denise Doolan
- Mr Yasser El-Ansary
- Professor Douglas Hilton AO
- Professor Anne Kelso AO
- Ms Imelda Lynch
In developing the 2021-26 Strategy, the Advisory Board has taken into consideration other health and medical research strategies including the work of the National Health and Medical Research Council to ensure a coordinated narrative.
The MRFF Act determines that a Strategy is in force for five years. A subsequent Strategy must be determined and in force as soon as the 2021-26 Strategy ceases.
Consultation
The 2021-26 Strategy has been developed following a national consultation with consumers, healthcare providers, researchers and organisations. The consultation process included a call for written submissions, a virtual roundtable by invitation and a national webinar.
The consultation process commenced on 20 September 2021 with the release of a Consultation Guide and opening of an online written submission process. A public webinar and a virtual roundtable were also held to inform the consultation. The Advisory Board engaged with the health and medical research sector and public through this consultation process, including receiving over 200 submissions from a range of interested parties including peak bodies, universities, medical research institutions, clinicians and consumers. The consultation closed on 11 October 2021.
The submissions and feedback received through the consultation process were considered in the development of the 2021-26 Strategy.
The 2021-26 Strategy will be published on the Department of Health’s MRFF website.
Overview
The Australian Medical Research and Innovation Strategy 2021-2026 Determination 2021, made under the Medical Research Future Fund Act 2015, outlines the strategy for providing financial assistance for health and medical research and innovation over the next five years. Enacted by the Australian Parliament, this legislation was introduced to address the need for a coherent and consistent approach in the allocation of funds through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) to enhance the health and wellbeing of Australians. The strategy was developed by the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board, which comprises members with relevant expertise and knowledge, and was shaped through extensive consultations with various stakeholders including researchers, healthcare providers, and consumer representatives. The policy objective of this strategy is to ensure that the MRFF’s financial assistance is directed towards achieving specific strategic objectives, thereby supporting priority-driven investment, collaborative research, innovation, and translation within the health and medical research sector.
Scope and Application
The Australian Medical Research and Innovation Strategy 2021-2026 Determination 2021, made under section 32D of the Medical Research Future Fund Act 2015, applies to the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board (Advisory Board), which is tasked with determining the Strategy. This Strategy outlines the vision, aims, and objectives for the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), ensuring a coherent and consistent approach in providing financial assistance to the health and medical research sector over a five-year period. The Strategy is developed with input from organisations with expertise in medical research or medical innovation and from entities representing consumers who benefit from such research. The Act mandates that the Advisory Board must consult with relevant stakeholders, ensuring that the Strategy is informed by technical and scientific expertise as well as public consultation. The Strategy is not subject to disallowance due to its reliance on expert advice and public consultation, which are critical for effective forward planning within the health and medical research sector. The Strategy comes into effect the day after its registration on the Federal Register of Legislation.
Key Provisions
The Australian Medical Research and Innovation Strategy 2021-2026 Determination 2021 (the Determination) sets out the strategy for the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) for the next five years. According to section 32D(1) of the Medical Research Future Fund Act 2015 (MRFF Act), the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board (Advisory Board) is required to determine the Australian Medical Research and Innovation Strategy (Strategy), which is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislation Act 2003 (subsection 32D(6) of the MRFF Act). The Strategy is developed based on the technical and scientific expertise of the Advisory Board members and extensive consultations with relevant organisations and the public (section 32EA of the MRFF Act).
The Advisory Board, as outlined in section 32G(2) of the MRFF Act, comprises members with appropriate experience or knowledge in specified scientific and technical fields. The Strategy ensures a coherent and consistent approach in providing financial assistance under the MRFF, as required by section 32D(1) and 32D(4) of the MRFF Act. The purpose of the Strategy is to inform the development of new Australian Medical Research and Innovation Priorities during its five-year period of effect. This Strategy will also inform decisions on the allocation of grants of financial assistance available to the health and medical research sector. The Strategy will be published on the Department of Health’s MRFF website.
The Advisory Board has an obligation to consult with relevant stakeholders, including organisations with expertise in medical research or medical innovation and organisations representing consumers who benefit from medical research and innovation. This consultation process is required by section 32EA of the MRFF Act and is intended to inform the development of the Strategy. The Advisory Board engaged with the health and medical research sector and the public through a national consultation process, which included a call for written submissions, a virtual roundtable by invitation and a national webinar. The submissions and feedback received through this consultation process were considered in the development of the 2021-26 Strategy.
There are no specific offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breach outlined in the Determination or the MRFF Act regarding the development or implementation of the Strategy. However, the disallowance process under section 42 of the Legislation Act 2003 does not apply to the instrument made under paragraph 32D(1) of the MRFF Act due to the development of the instrument being based on technical and scientific expertise and public consultations. If the Strategy were to be subject to disallowance, it would impact the forward planning of the health and medical research sector, as the Strategy informs decisions to make grants of financial assistance available to the sector.