Current Consultations

Research Australia regularly contributes to the policy discussions on issues pertinent to Health and Medical Research. This can be through submissions or participating in consultations.

The following lists both consultations and invitations to make submissions which are relevant to health and medical research and/or health and innovation policy in Australia. Research Australia updates this regularly but we may not participate in every one listed.

If you would like more information or you are aware of other consultations that should be included, please contact Greg Mullins, Head of Policy, Research Australia via email greg.mullins@researchaustralia.org or phone (03) 9662 9420.

Please click the heading in the left hand column to access consultation information from the relevant website.

Consultation

 Details

R&D Tax Incentive Amendments Senate Inquiry

 

 

 On 6 February 2020, the Senate referred the Treasury Laws Amendment (Research and Development Tax Incentive) Bill 2019 to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 30 April 2020. This has now been extended to 7 August because of the impact of COVID-19 on the parliamentary schedule.

The Bill would amend the existing R&DTI scheme to, among other things, introduce a cap on the refundable R&DTI that can be claimed by a company (clinical trials are exempted) and an ‘intensity threshold’ that must be satisfied by larger companies.

Research Australia has made a submission, available here. Public hearings were to be held in March and April, but have been postponed until further notice due to COVID-19.

Select Committee on COVID-19

 

Due 28 May

 On 8 April 2020, the Senate resolved to establish a Select Committee on COVID-19 to inquire into the Australian Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The terms of reference are very broad:

    1. the Australian Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic; and
    2. any related matters.

The Committee is to present its final report on or before 30 June 2022.

Stillbirth Action

 

Due 10 July

 The draft National Stillbirth Action and Implementation Plan is open for consultation. Chapter 5 is Prioritising Stillbirth Research.

Submissions can be made via an online survey.

NSW Animal Welfare Reform

 

 

Due 21 June

 The NSW Government is undertaking a review of the regulation of animal welfare, which includes the use of animals in research and the Animal Research Act 1985 (AR Act).

An Issues Paper is available and responses to the questions posed in the Issues Paper are sought. In particular, comments are sought on the definition of animal research in the AR Act and the role of the Animal Research Review Panel.