The Government needs to appoint people to get its University Research Commercialisation Action Plan happening – timing could be a problem

The  plan includes an advisory board and six “priority managers” to work with early stage funded researchers. The intent is to appoint/engage them by the middle of the year. Which will be hard, unless it is impossible.

The Government’s research commercialisation strategy requires legislation and both houses sit this week and next. After that they are back for the budget in March but even if any bill passed the Reps the senators might send it off to the scrutiny of bills committee, delaying it at least until May sitting weeks.

Which are unlikely to happen, what with the election imminent.

This would make it tight for appointing people by mid-year– if at all.

An incoming Labor government might have altogether different ideas for research policy.