Australian Research Council Act 2001 - Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities - Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2007

Administered by Department of Education

Legislation au F2006L02373 Rules Not in force Legislative Instrument

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EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

 

Funding Rules made under section 60 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001

 

Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities

 

Issued by the authority of the Minister for Education, Science and Training

 

 

Subject: Australian Research Council Act 2001

  Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities Funding Rules for funding                              commencing in 2007

 

Authority

Section 60 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001 (the Act) provides that the Minister for Education, Science and Training must approve ARC funding rules. 

 

Purpose and effect

Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities is a scheme funded under the Australian Research Council’s National Competitive Grants Program.  The Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities for funding commencing in 2007 sets out the eligibility and accountability requirements and other relevant matters for research programs which may be funded under this scheme.  The scheme provides funding to organisations for research infrastructure that will be used to support high-quality research projects which have been approved by the Minister for Education, Science and Training.

 

In accordance with subsection 59 (2) of the Act, the Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities for funding commencing in 2007 contain:

(a) the eligibility criteria to be met in order for a proposal to be approved for financial assistance (including criteria relating to the kinds of organisation that may receive assistance and the kinds of research program in respect of which assistance may be provided);

(b) how to apply for financial assistance;

(c) the assessment process for deciding which proposals will be recommended for approval;

(d) the ways in which, and circumstances in which, a funding approval may be varied; and

(e) any additional accountability requirements that the ARC Board thinks desirable.

 

In accordance with subsection 59 (2) of the Act, the Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities for funding commencing in 2007 rules take account of, and are consistent with:

(a) the funding cap for the year, or each of the years, to which the rules apply; and

(b) the funding split determination for the year, or each of the years, to which the rules apply.

 

The Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities for funding commencing in 2007 were approved by the Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, on 16 March 2006.  No amendments have been made.

 

Documents incorporated by reference

The following documents are incorporated into the Funding Rules by reference:

 

  • The draft Funding Agreement (see subsections 1.1.2 and 10.1), available from (http://www.arc.gov.au);
  • the Joint NHMRC/AVCC Statement and Guidelines on Research Practice (1997)/the NHMRC’s National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans; and/as applicable, the NHMRC’s other codes on animal research (see subsection 1.4.1.1 of the rules), available from (http://www.nhmrc.gov.au);
  • Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment Facilities and Equipment Instructions to Applicants (see subsection 7.4.3.2 of the rules), available from (http://www.arc.gov.au); and
  • National Principles of Intellectual Property Management for Publicly Funded Research (see subsection 11.4.4 of the rules), available from (http://www.arc.gov.au).

 

Consultation

On 21 June 2005, the ARC invited comments and feedback from all organisations eligible for ARC funding on funding rules for ARC schemes.  The ARC also met with a number of key higher education institutions known as the ‘Group of Eight’ in the period 11-15 July 2005.  Submissions were received by the ARC from a number of institutions in June/July 2005.  The ARC considered these submissions and, where appropriate, the funding rules approved by the Minister reflected this feedback. 

 

Commencement

The Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2007 commence the day after they are registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments. 

 

Likely impact and effect

These Funding Rules provide the key criteria and requirements for proposals for, and the allocation and administration of, funding under the Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities scheme for research projects where funding will commence in 2007.

 

Explanation of provisions: provision by provision description

Section 1 covers the objectives of the National Competitive Grants Program and the Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities scheme, and fundamental principles and requirements, including ethics and research practices, duplication, conflict of interest and acknowledging ARC support.

 

Section 2 outlines changes from last year.

 

Section 3 covers funding details, including the level and duration of funding, the types of research supported, areas of investigation/work not supported, restrictions on budget items, number of proposals allowed, and ownership and location of infrastructure, equipment and facilities.

 

Section 4 covers organisational types, roles and eligibility.

 

Section 5 covers investigator types, roles and eligibility.

 

Section 6 outlines cross-scheme funding and eligibility issues.

 

Section 7 deals with the application process, including application requirements and format, certification, the application form, submission procedures, and the closing date.

 

Section 8 outlines the selection and approval process, including selection criteria, assessment and selection procedure, and the offer of funding.

 

Section 9 outlines the appeals process.

 

Section 10 deals with the administration of grants, including the funding agreement, varying the funding agreement or funding approval, and reporting requirements.

 

Section 11 deals with other relevant matters, including applicable law, confidentiality, project description, intellectual property, incomplete or misleading information, and insurance and liabilities.

 

Overview

The Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2007 were enacted under the Australian Research Council Act 2001 to establish the eligibility, accountability, and administrative requirements for the allocation of funding under the Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities scheme. This scheme is a part of the Australian Research Council’s National Competitive Grants Program, which aims to support high-quality research projects through infrastructure funding. The rules were approved by the Minister for Education, Science and Training on 16 March 2006 and came into effect following their registration on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments. The purpose of these rules is to ensure that proposals for funding are assessed according to specific eligibility criteria, and that funded projects comply with accountability requirements, including ethical research practices and intellectual property management. The rules also outline the application process, assessment procedures, and the administration of grants, including provisions for varying funding approvals and reporting obligations. These rules were developed following consultation with eligible organisations and key higher education institutions, and they incorporate various documents by reference, such as the draft Funding Agreement and the National Principles of Intellectual Property Management for Publicly Funded Research.

Scope and Application

The Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2007, made under section 60 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001, establish the eligibility criteria, application process, assessment procedure, and accountability requirements for funding research infrastructure within Australia. These rules apply to organisations eligible for Australian Research Council (ARC) funding, including higher education institutions and other research entities, aiming to support high-quality research projects approved by the Minister for Education, Science and Training. The scheme operates within the framework of the National Competitive Grants Program and is subject to specific eligibility criteria, such as the type of research program and the kind of organisation that may receive assistance. The rules also incorporate by reference various documents, including the draft Funding Agreement, the Joint NHMRC/AVCC Statement and Guidelines on Research Practice, and the NHMRC’s National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans. These Funding Rules, which were approved by the Minister on 16 March 2006, set out the conditions and procedures for applying for and managing the funds allocated under the Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities scheme, ensuring alignment with the funding cap and split determination for the applicable years.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Funding Rules (sections 1 to 11) establish the framework for the Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities scheme, setting out the eligibility criteria, application process, assessment criteria, and other relevant requirements for funding research infrastructure. Section 1 details the objectives and fundamental principles of the scheme, including ethics and research practices, while Section 3 provides specifics on the level and duration of funding, types of research supported, and restrictions on budget items (section 3). Section 4 defines the types of organisations eligible for funding, and Section 5 details the roles and eligibility of investigators (section 4 and 5). Section 7 outlines the application process, including the format and submission procedures, and Section 8 describes the selection and approval process, including the criteria used for assessment (section 7 and 8). Section 10 addresses the administration of grants, including the terms of the funding agreement and reporting requirements (section 10). The obligations imposed by the Act on parties or entities it governs include meeting the eligibility criteria for funding, adhering to the application and assessment processes outlined in the rules, and fulfilling the requirements of the funding agreement. Organisations and investigators must ensure their proposals comply with the objectives and principles of the scheme, including ethical standards and conflict of interest guidelines. They must also provide accurate and complete information in their applications and comply with the terms of the funding agreement, including reporting requirements and intellectual property provisions. Failure to meet these obligations can result in the proposal being rejected or the funding agreement being terminated. The Funding Rules also outline the potential consequences for breach, including the possibility of funding being withheld or withdrawn. Under Section 11 of the rules, incomplete or misleading information in an application can result in the application being rejected. Additionally, failure to comply with the terms of the funding agreement can lead to the agreement being varied or terminated, and the Australian Research Council may seek to recover any funds already paid out under the agreement. While the rules do not specify maximum penalties for breaches, the consequences can be significant, including loss of funding and potential reputational damage for the organisation or individual involved.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.