Researchers outraged that government members get to announce research grants when it suits them need be outraged no more

Labor, Green and cross-bench senators combined to secure an order requiring the Australian Research Council to provide the Senate each month with a list of grants awarded.

The government, being able to count went along with it.  Assistant Forestry Minister Senator Jonathon Duniam (Lib Tas), explained the government had way back told the ARC to “notify applicants of their outcomes under embargo in advance of any government announcement, ensuring that they are informed sooner than ever before, and that projects can be commenced and recruitment therefore undertaken.” However, critics long-claimed that this was a bit difficult to do when grants were still secret.

An embargo on ARC funding being public until government members/senators get around to announcing it was the reason for the Senate’s ruling.