Her brief includes “champion” research open access – she has a plan

The most excellent Parliamentary Library’s new briefing book for MPs and senators includes a link to Chief Scientist Cathy Foley’s “Australian Model for Open Access” – but alas the link goes to a statement, “copyright restrictions prevent us from showing the contents of this document.” Which surely indicates the need for whatever she has in mind.

But Dr Foley set out what might be the plan’s objectives in a briefing for the Australian Library and Information Association in November, HERE

She presented eight principles of an Australian Model for Open Access

* use and increase benefits from existing expenditure on subscriptions and publishing

* free access for all peer-reviewed journal articles from pub date for all residents of Australia

* all Australian peer-reviewed journal articles are openly accessible internationally from pub date

* “recognise the role of publishers in the system and ensure the sustainability of their businesses”

* “support research integrity by facilitating the provision of quality metadata, keeping versions of record and assisting in discoverability”

* author autonomy on where to publish

* internationally interoperable infrastructure

* equitable for all “stakeholders”

As to paying for it

Dr Foley suggested funds now spent with publishers should be, “available to a central implementation body” which negotiates OA agreements.

The Chief Scientist added she wanted this to be, “an on-going sustainable model with an on-going funding stream.”