A review of grants suggests that ministerial input should be reduced in order to ensure better decision-making. In a report

Key Highlights :

1. The review found that trust in the Australian Research Council has been eroded by ministerial interventions in the past 20 years.

2. The review called for increased support for Indigenous Australian academics through better consultation and extra fellowship opportunities.

3. The report recommended parliamentary oversight be required where a minister intervened in a grants process due to a potential threat to national security.

4. ATSE chief executive Kylie Walker called on the government to address dwindling research and development funding.

     An independent review has found that ministerial interventions will no longer be required to restore trust in the research grant allocation process. The review, conducted by the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO), was released today.

     The review found that the current allocation process is efficient and transparent, with ministerial interventions required only on rare occasions. The review found that the allocation process has been effective in ensuring that research funding is used to its best potential.

     The review was conducted in response to concerns about the trustworthiness of the research grant allocation process. The review found that the allocation process is efficient and transparent, with ministerial interventions required only on rare occasions.

     The review found that the allocation process has been effective in ensuring that research funding is used to its best potential. The review also found that the allocation process is supported by a strong governance framework.

     The review has made a number of recommendations to improve the allocation process. The review recommends that the Department of Industry, Science and Technology (DIST) develop a plan to reduce the number of ministerial interventions required to restore trust in the process. The review also recommends that the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) develop a plan to improve the transparency of the research grant allocation process.

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