Research independence

Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, has announced a new framework for research independence and responsibility with the signing of charters for four major public research agencies.

For the first time, charters outlining the freedoms and responsibilities of public research agencies have been drawn up between government and the public research agencies, entrenching the rights, but also the obligations, of scientists and other researchers to participate in public research debates.

It is claimed that under the previous government some research was censored and many researchers did not feel free to take part in public debate.

The charters are designed to rebuild the confidence of the sector.

“One of my earliest acts as Minister was to announce this government's intention to formalise the rights and obligations of researchers to engage in public research debates.

“If ideas are to be successfully applied, they must be debated in public. Robust debate on research issues is a sign of the health of Australia's innovation system,” said Senator Carr.

The Minister and chairs of the boards of CSIRO, the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) have signed the charters.

The charters entrench a set of general principles, which are:

• Encouragement of open communication and dissemination of research findings.
• Encouragement of debate on research issues of public interest.
• Recognition of the role of researchers in such communication and debate.
• The contestability of ideas.
• Independence and integrity of public research agencies in their research activities.
• Government responsibility for policy formulation and implementation.

These charters were developed during 2008 following extensive consultation with research agencies and vary slightly to reflect the specific circumstances of the agencies.