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

Administered by Department of Education, Science and Training

Legislation au F2007L01958 Rules Not in force Legislative Instrument

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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. 

 

Overview

The Australian Research Council Act 2001, enacted by the Commonwealth Parliament, serves to establish the Australian Research Council (ARC) and provides for the funding and management of research within Australia. This Act was introduced to ensure that research in Australia is of high quality and contributes effectively to the nation's social and economic wellbeing. One significant aspect of the Act is its provision for the variation of funding rules, as seen in the recent variation to the Special Research Initiatives Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2006, 2007, or 2008. Approved by the Minister for Education, Science and Training, this variation extends the period of financial assistance to cover additional years and includes new provisions regarding the dissemination of research outputs. The policy objective behind these amendments is to encourage broader and more effective dissemination of research findings, thereby maximising the societal benefits of government investment in research.

Scope and Application

The variation to the Special Research Initiatives Funding Rules made under section 61 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001 applies to entities and individuals involved in Special Research Initiatives, particularly those seeking funding for research projects that commence in 2006, 2007, or 2008. This variation extends the scope of the funding rules to encompass financial assistance for these years, thereby impacting research projects within the specified timeframe. The rules are applicable nationally, as they are governed by Commonwealth legislation. The variation explicitly includes provisions for the dissemination of research outputs, encouraging researchers to deposit their data and publications in appropriate repositories to enhance the accessibility and impact of their work. The variation also makes amendments to administrative references, replacing mentions of the ARC Board with the ARC Chief Executive Officer, thereby streamlining the governance structure. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions within this variation, and it does not introduce new thresholds beyond the specified funding years. The variation extends the application of the existing rules through subordinate instruments, thereby maintaining consistency with the overarching objectives of the Australian Research Council Act 2001.

Key Provisions

The Special Research Initiatives Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2006, as varied in June 2007, lay out several key provisions. Section 2.5 (subsection 2.5.1 to 2.5.3) introduces a requirement for researchers to disseminate their research outputs as broadly as possible, encouraging the use of repositories for data and publications. The rules also detail that financial assistance may be extended to cover projects in the 2007-08 financial year and subsequent years (subsection 4.1.2). Additionally, the text "Funding commencing in 2006" has been replaced with "Funding commencing in 2006, 2007 or 2008" across the document (front cover, pages 2 and 6). The variation also includes the insertion of a new Section 2.5 on dissemination of research outputs and the replacement of references to the ARC Board with ARC Chief Executive Officer (subsections 9.1.1 and 9.1.4). The obligations under these rules require researchers to consider depositing their data and publications in appropriate repositories and to include reasons in the Final Report if they do not intend to deposit the data within six months. Researchers must also identify any research outputs deposited in repositories in their Final Report. Furthermore, financial assistance under these rules is contingent on projects commencing with effect from 1 January of the calendar year following the date of approval, unless otherwise approved by the Minister. Breaches of these requirements may result in the cessation of financial assistance for non-compliant projects. While specific penalties are not mentioned in the document, the consequences of non-compliance could include the need to justify non-deposit decisions in the Final Report and potential impact on the project's standing and future funding eligibility. The rules emphasise the importance of adhering to the dissemination requirements to maximise the benefits from research investments.

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Area of Law
Research Law
Instrument
Regulation
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Dissemination of research outputs

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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.