Today, the Australian Senate E&E Committee majority recommended that the Senate does not pass the Australian Research Council Amendment (Ensuring Research Independence) Bill 2018.

It is unfortunate that the opportunity was lost to bring the Australian system in line with the Haldane Principle of an independent agency, where only the funding rules are defined by the government. This is the case in, for example, the UK, EU, and the US.

Despite this disappointing outcome, it was good to see the whole research sector united with this vision of research independence.

• Read the full report of the Committee here.
• Read our advocacy letter here. 
• Watch AIP President Prof Sven Rogge speak at the Senate Inquiry here (14:35:40 onwards).