The peak body urges senators to amend the Australian Research Council Act, “to remove ministerial decision-making on individual research applications”

UA urges them to support a bill from NSW Greens senator, Mehreen Faruqi.

But if they won’t do that, then UA urges “a predictable, transparent and informed process be in place for those decisions.”

UA argues  legislation is necessary to protect basic research and secure the benefits it brings,

“Fundamental or “blue sky” research does not always fit easily into accepted short-term incentive frameworks, yet history repeatedly demonstrates the central role of basic, curiosity-driven research in driving prosperity and progress,” UA asserts.

But the peak body also confronts the issue that led to the bill – that the six  ARC recommended research projects Acting Education Minister Stuart  Robert blocked in December were all from, HASS disciplines. “Australia needs the arts, humanities and social sciences – in academia and industry – just as much as it needs science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” UA states.