Australian Research Council Act 2001 - Special Research Initiatives - Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2006 (Variation) (21/06/2007)

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Variation to Funding Rules made under section 61 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001

Special Research Initiatives

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

Subject:  Australian Research Council Act 2001

Variation to Special Research Initiatives Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2006

Authority

Section 61 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001 (the Act) allows for variation of a set of rules by the Minister for Education, Science and Training.

Purpose and effect

The Special Research Initiatives Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2006 were approved under Section 60 of the Act by the Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, on 12 September 2005. A variation to these rules (F2006L02926) was approved under Section 61 of the Act by the Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, on 03 August 2006.  An additional variation to these rules was approved under section 61 of the Act by the Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, on 21 June 2007.

Details of the most recent approved variation to the Special Research Initiatives Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2006:

1. In the front cover page and pages 2 and 6 delete the text ‘Funding commencing in 2006’ and replace with ‘Funding commencing in 2006, 2007 or 2008’;
2. In the front cover page insert the text ‘(as varied June 2007)’  under the text ‘2006, 2007 or 2008’;
3. After subsection 2.4.2 , insert a new Section 2.5:

2.5 Dissemination of research outputs

2.5.1 The Australian Government makes a major investment in research to support its essential role in improving the wellbeing of our society. To maximise the benefits from research, findings need to be disseminated as broadly as possible to allow access by other researchers and the wider community.

2.5.2 The ARC acknowledges that researchers take into account a wide range of factors in deciding on the best outlets for publications arising from their research. Such considerations include the status and reputation of a journal or publisher, the peer review process of evaluating their research outputs, access by other stakeholders to their work, the likely impact of their work on users of research and the further dissemination and production of knowledge. Taking heed of these considerations, the ARC wants to ensure the widest possible dissemination of the research supported under its funding, in the most effective manner and at the earliest opportunity.

2.5.3 The ARC therefore encourages researchers to consider the benefits of depositing their data and any publications arising from a research project in an appropriate subject and/or institutional repository wherever such a repository is available to the researcher(s). If a researcher is not intending to deposit the data from a project in a repository within a six-month period, he/she should include the reasons in the project’s Final Report. Any research outputs that have been or will be deposited in appropriate repositories should be identified in the Final Report.
 

iv.                Delete Section 3 and replace with a new Section 3 as follows:

3 Changes from last year

3.1.1 The major changes from the 2005 SRI Funding Rules were outlined in the previous version of these Funding Rules issued in September 2005 (available at http://www.arc.gov.au). Further changes are being effected in this updated version of these Funding Rules as listed below:

1. the period for which financial assistance is payable under these Funding Rules has been extended to cover funding in the 2007-08 financial year and any subsequent years to which the ARC Act applies (subsection 4.1.2 and various headings on the front cover and the table of contents and introduction pages);
2. a new section has been inserted dealing with the dissemination of research outputs (Section 2.5); and
3.    References to the ARC Board have been replaced with ARC Chief Executive Officer (subsections 9.1.1 and 9.1.4).

v. After subsection 4.1.1 insert a new subsection 4.1.2 as follows:

4.1.2.1  Financial assistance may be payable under these Funding Rules for Special Research Initiatives projects in respect of the financial year 2006-07 and/or 2007-08 and any subsequent years to which the ARC Act applies. Funding for approved projects will commence with effect from 1 January of the calendar year which immediately follows the date of approval of a project, unless other arrangements are approved by the Minister.

vi. In subsections 9.1.1 and 9.1.4, delete the text ‘ARC Board’ and replace with ‘ARC Chief Executive Officer’.

Commencement

The variation to the Special Research Initiatives Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2006 commence the day after they are registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.