[csaa-forum] CSAA Response to the Ministerial Veto of ARC DP Grants and Proposed Changes to Linkages

[Elizabeth Stephens]

Hi all,

Just as many of us were attempting to take a much-needed break over the festive season, Acting Education Minister Stuart Robert announced dramatic changes to the ARC funding rules for the Linkage program, followed by the news, on Christmas Eve, that he had vetoed six of the Discovery projects recommended for funding by the ARC, all of which were in the humanities.

The CSAA joins the Australian Academies of the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Sciences in expressing its alarm and deep concern about these moves.

The proposed changes to the Linkage scheme – which includes the ARC Centres of Excellence, the Industrial Transformation Research Program, the Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities scheme, Linkage Projects and Special Research Initiatives – all but restrict future funding to collaborations with the manufacturing sector.  The “Letter of Expectations” the Minister sent to the ARC directs that in future 70% of Linkage Projects are to be oriented to National Manufacturing Priorities with, “the remaining Linkage Program allocations in specific cases, such as the Low Emissions Technology Statement, the National Agricultural Innovation Priorities and the Defence Science and Technology Strategy 2030”.

You can read about these proposed changes here:
https://www.arc.gov.au/letter-expectations-minister-arc

The subsequent veto of Discovery Projects has been the object of international condemnation. Four of these grants were in literary studies, and two focused on cultural issues in contemporary China. You can follow the public and media response to this announcement in the articles linked below.

https://www.afr.com/policy/health-and-education/robert-s-research-veto-attracts-international-condemnation-20220107-p59mjd?fbclid=IwAR2VGjEydGvuk0RC7ZibSxXk3-GDdok4hsWfjF_eTmcjWcldcdq9JZuyBsM

https://www.smh.com.au/national/under-cover-of-christmas-education-minister-stuart-robert-overruled-the-experts-20211226-p59k8b.html

https://www.afr.com/policy/health-and-education/robert-s-research-grants-veto-a-pre-election-dog-whistle-20220105-p59lzm

https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/education/the-stories-behind-the-research-grants-stuart-robert-vetoed-20220105-p59m3u

On the proposed changes to the Linkage scheme, see also:

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/blog/australias-new-research-direction-road-nowhere?fbclid=IwAR3sOKuthcz_IV8JAO3d4sJgP4Iiaz6DcxPZ6QkMX0EeW2M1b_PXjErYKY4

https://theconversation.com/latest-government-bid-to-dictate-research-directions-builds-on-a-decade-of-failure-173834<https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheconversation.com%2Flatest-government-bid-to-dictate-research-directions-builds-on-a-decade-of-failure-173834&data=04%7C01%7Canna.hickey-moody%40rmit.edu.au%7Ce699d56c53db45918b3308d9cfd76bf1%7Cd1323671cdbe4417b4d4bdb24b51316b%7C0%7C0%7C637769346455940716%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=YnWMKk4mRyVdTepEX849fdo5m4amFyAGlk4SLip%2FWjA%3D&reserved=0>

https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/time-to-look-at-the-many-ways-to-stuff-up-productivity-20220101-p59l7h.html


The CSAA stands in solidarity with members directly affected by the most recent veto. I remind the membership that writing letters of protest to our local members remains a viable way to voice our strong disapproval of both the Ministerial vetoing of projects recommended for funding, and the proposed changes to the Linkage scheme.

Let us hope that this election year gives us another opportunity to make our voices heard.

With best wishes,
Elizabeth


Elizabeth Stephens
Associate Professor of Cultural Studies
President, Cultural Studies Association of Australasia
Founder and convenor, Australasian Health and Medical Humanities Network: https://healthmedicalhumanities.net.au
School of Communication and Arts
University of Queensland Australia 4072
E: e.stephens at uq.edu.au  W: http://uq.academia.edu/ElizabethStephens<https://exchange.uq.edu.au/owa/redir.aspx?C=c9c1382619904792917762425ca21fe4&URL=http%3a%2f%2fuq.academia.edu%2fElizabethStephens>
UQ ALLY:  Supporting the diversity of sexuality and gender at UQ<https://staff.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/human-resources/diversity/sexuality/ally-network>.

Latest book: Normality: A Critical Genealogy ​
http://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/N/bo26955753.html

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