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

Patent Box

 

Due 16 August

 In the May Budget, the Government announced it will introduce a patent box for corporate income associated with new patents in the medical and biotechnology sectors.

‘Patent box’ is a generic term for regimes that apply a concessional tax treatment to profits derived from eligible intellectual property (IP). The patent box will apply to companies for income years commencing on or after 1 July 2022.

The objective of this discussion paper is to inform the Government’s consideration of the detailed design of the patent box announced in the 2021‑22 Budget.

ACNC Secrecy and Disclosure Provisions

 

 

Due 22 August

 Treasury is seeking feedback on the issues identified in recommendation 17 of the Strengthening for Purpose: Australian Charities and Not-for-Profit Commission Legislation Review 2018 (ACNC Review). Specifically, the consultation paper seeks to understand stakeholder views around the following:

·       concerns and impacts of the ACNC’s current secrecy provisions;

·       the benefits and sensitivities of public disclosure of certain information about the ACNC’s regulatory activities;

·       circumstances under which the ACNC should disclose information about its regulatory activities to the public; and

·       factors and risks that should form the basis of a discretion when considering whether to disclose information to the public.

A consultation paper is available to guide responses.

Victorian AMR Strategy

 

Due 7 September

 The Victorian Government is developing the first Victorian Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy 2021-2031.

A consultation survey is open until 7 September, providing an opportunity for key stakeholders and the public to provide input into the objectives and priority actions of the strategy.

‘National One-Stop-Shop’ consultations for health and medical research platform

 The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare is conducting consultations on a national online portal for all health and medical research which will make it easier for researchers, industry representatives and sponsors to find, conduct, participate and invest in research in Australia.

The concept for the National One-Stop-Shop seeks to achieve a national, interconnected, rapid and streamlined approvals platform that will:

    • include a cross-jurisdictional ethics and governance approvals platform that incorporates key application, notification and approval systems
    • incorporate the Clinical Trials Notification and Clinical Trials Approval schemes administered by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
    • include an embedded and automated next-generation national clinical trials registry
    • provide sophisticated monitoring and reporting functionality for different users.

Register your interest to get updates on the consultations and how you can be involved.

R&DTI Scheme Review of administration arrangements

 

Due 15 September

 The R&DTI is jointly administered by the ATO, Industry Innovation and Science Australia (IISA) and the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources (DISER), with the ATO responsible for the administration and processing of R&D tax offset claims, and IISA responsible for registering companies’ R&D activities.

The Board of Taxation has been charged by the Government with evaluating the administration model, with a view to identifying opportunities to reduce duplication between the ATO and IISA, simplify administrative processes, or otherwise reduce the compliance costs for applicants.

Submissions in response to a consultation paper can be made until 15 September. There is also an opportunity to attend consultation sessions. More information is available on the website- click the link in the heading on the left.

Select Committee on COVID-19

 

 

 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.

Research Australia has made a submission to the Inquiry, which is available here.

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