Australian Research Council Amendment Act 2018
No. 54, 2018
An Act to amend the Australian Research Council Act 2001, and for related purposes
Contents
1 Short title
2 Commencement
3 Schedules
Schedule 1—Amendments
Australian Research Council Act 2001
Australian Research Council Amendment Act 2018
No. 54, 2018
An Act to amend the Australian Research Council Act 2001, and for related purposes
[Assented to 28 June 2018]
The Parliament of Australia enacts:
1 Short title
This Act is the Australian Research Council Amendment Act 2018.
2 Commencement
(1) Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.
Commencement information |
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
Provisions | Commencement | Date/Details |
1. The whole of this Act | The day after this Act receives the Royal Assent. | 29 June 2018 |
Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally enacted. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this Act.
(2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this Act. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this Act.
3 Schedules
Legislation that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.
Schedule 1—Amendments
Australian Research Council Act 2001
1 At the end of subsection 48(2)
Add:
; (q) the financial year starting on 1 July 2020;
(r) the financial year starting on 1 July 2021.
2 Paragraphs 49(r), (s) and (t)
Repeal the paragraphs, substitute:
(r) for the financial year starting on 1 July 2017—$758,055,000; and
(s) for the financial year starting on 1 July 2018—$759,925,000; and
(t) for the financial year starting on 1 July 2019—$771,932,000; and
(u) for the financial year starting on 1 July 2020—$771,932,000; and
(v) for the financial year starting on 1 July 2021—$771,932,000.
[Minister’s second reading speech made in—
House of Representatives on 10 May 2018
Senate on 25 June 2018]
Overview
The Australian Research Council Amendment Act 2018, enacted on 29 June 2018, amends the Australian Research Council Act 2001 to address gaps and update provisions concerning funding allocations for research activities within Australia. This legislation was introduced by the Parliament of Australia with the intent to ensure that the Australian Research Council (ARC) can effectively manage and allocate funds for research activities, ensuring that the funding structure aligns with the evolving needs of the research community. The policy objective underpinning this amendment is to provide a clear and updated financial framework for the ARC, facilitating efficient and targeted allocation of research funds to support high-quality research initiatives across various sectors.
Scope and Application
The Australian Research Council Amendment Act 2018 amends the Australian Research Council Act 2001 to adjust funding allocations and reporting requirements for the financial years starting on 1 July 2020 and 1 July 2021. This Act applies to the Australian Research Council, which is responsible for distributing research funding and managing research assessment processes within Australia. The amendments affect the financial management and reporting obligations of the Council, ensuring alignment with the government's budgetary plans for research funding. The changes specified in the Act extend to the entire Commonwealth of Australia, impacting entities that receive funding from the Australian Research Council. The Act does not explicitly state exclusions or exemptions, but its application is inherently limited to the entities and transactions governed by the Australian Research Council Act 2001. The Act may be further refined or extended through subordinate legislation, which would provide additional detail on implementation and application.
Key Provisions
The Australian Research Council Amendment Act 2018 (C2018A00054) amends the Australian Research Council Act 2001 (ARC Act) to update funding provisions. Specifically, section 1 of Schedule 1 amends subsection 48(2) of the ARC Act by adding two new financial years, 2020 and 2021, to the list of years for which funding is provided. This means that the ARC must allocate funding for research activities in these additional years, ensuring continued support for research initiatives.
The Act also amends paragraph 49 of the ARC Act by repealing old funding provisions and substituting new ones. The changes update the funding allocations for the financial years starting on 1 July 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. These updated figures reflect the changing needs and priorities in the research sector, ensuring that the funding reflects the current economic and research landscape.
Entities governed by the ARC Act, such as research institutions and grant applicants, must adhere to the updated funding provisions outlined in the amended sections. These entities must ensure that their research proposals align with the new funding criteria and timelines specified in the Act. This includes preparing budget estimates and project plans that reflect the updated financial allocations and the specific requirements for each financial year.
The Australian Research Council Amendment Act 2018 does not explicitly state any offences or penalties for non-compliance with the Act's provisions. However, entities that fail to comply with the updated funding provisions may face consequences such as the loss of funding eligibility or other administrative penalties imposed by the ARC. The exact nature of these consequences would depend on the specific circumstances and the policies of the ARC.