Australian Research Council Amendment Act 2020
No. 7, 2020
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 2020
No. 7, 2020
An Act to amend the Australian Research Council Act 2001, and for related purposes
[Assented to 26 February 2020]
The Parliament of Australia enacts:
1 Short title
This Act is the Australian Research Council Amendment Act 2020.
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. | 27 February 2020 |
Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally enacted.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Legislation that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.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:
; (s) the financial year starting on 1 July 2022.
2 Paragraphs 49(t) to (v)
Omit “$771,932,000”, substitute “$786,212,000”.
3 At the end of section 49
Add:
; and (w) for the financial year starting on 1 July 2022—$786,212,000.
[Minister’s second reading speech made in—
House of Representatives on 18 September 2019
Senate on 27 November 2019]
Overview
The Australian Research Council Amendment Act 2020, enacted on 27 February 2020, is an amendment to the Australian Research Council Act 2001. This Act was introduced by the Parliament of Australia to address gaps in funding allocations for research initiatives managed by the Australian Research Council (ARC) for the financial year starting on 1 July 2022. It seeks to rectify discrepancies and provide adequate financial resources to ensure the continuation of quality research and innovation in Australia. The policy objective is to support the ARC in its mission to fund and promote research excellence and to cater to the evolving needs of the research community.
Scope and Application
The Australian Research Council Amendment Act 2020 amends the Australian Research Council Act 2001, and is a federal statute that applies to entities and individuals involved in research activities within Australia. The Act primarily modifies financial provisions, including updating funding allocations for specific financial years, which indicates its application to research funding and administration. It does not explicitly state exclusions or exemptions, but the changes are specific to the financial aspects of research grants and allocations, suggesting a targeted application to the research sector. The Act’s amendments are directly integrated into the Australian Research Council Act 2001, without the need for additional subordinate instruments to extend or restrict its application, thus maintaining a streamlined legislative framework for the research funding process.
Key Provisions
The Australian Research Council Amendment Act 2020 (C2020A00007) introduces several amendments to the Australian Research Council Act 2001. The primary modifications are detailed in Schedule 1, which targets specific sections of the original Act. For instance, subsection 48(2) is updated to include a reference to the financial year starting on 1 July 2022 (Schedule 1, item 1). Additionally, there are amendments to the figures provided in paragraphs 49(t) to (v), where the amount "$771,932,000" is replaced with "$786,212,000" (Schedule 1, item 2). This change is further reflected in the addition of a new paragraph (w) at the end of section 49, specifying the same amount for the financial year starting on 1 July 2022 (Schedule 1, item 3).
The Act imposes certain obligations on the Australian Research Council and related entities, particularly regarding financial allocations and reporting. Specifically, it mandates that the Council adheres to the new financial parameters set out in the amendments. This includes ensuring that the financial planning and reporting mechanisms within the Council account for the specified amounts for the financial year starting on 1 July 2022. These obligations are critical to maintaining transparency and accountability in the allocation and utilisation of funds as per the new legislative framework.
In terms of penalties and consequences for non-compliance, the Act does not explicitly outline specific offences or penalties within the text provided. However, non-compliance with financial regulations and reporting requirements generally can lead to various civil or administrative consequences. This may include scrutiny from the relevant governmental bodies, potential audits, or corrective measures to ensure adherence to the legal standards set forth by the Act. While the text does not detail maximum penalties, breaches of financial regulations can typically result in significant administrative or financial repercussions for the entities involved.