The Australian National Audit Office is reviewing programme administration and invites submissions

This isn’t an  opportunity for yet another argument over who should receive how much in tax incentives. But the line between policy and admin is thin for a high-stakes programme contested since the Review of the Three Fs (CMM July 7 2016, and umpteen subsequent stories).

R&D tax change went off the agenda in the last budget, which made changes to the complex scheme but left it costing $2bn over the forward estimates (CMM October 8 2020).

And that should be that, whatever the ANAO discovers.

Except that Education Minister Alan Tudge is talking up translational research and science lobbies have long argued for incentives to encourage industry to invest in university and institute programmes.

And guess where re-directed funding could come from.