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 |
Royal Commission into Natural Disaster Arrangements
Due 26 June 2020 |
The Government has established the Royal Commission into Natural Disaster Arrangements which published an Issues Paper on 29 May addressing health issues in natural disasters.
One of the questions posed in the Issues Paper is ‘What should be the priority areas of research concerning the physical and mental health impacts of natural disasters?’ Other questions raised in the Issues Paper are also relevant to research, including how to better coordinate and support primary care, adopting a national strategy for air quality, and developing public health measures around bushfire smoke. |
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. |
Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violenceDue 24 July |
On 4 June the Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs inquire into and report on family, domestic and sexual violence, including with a view to informing the next National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children.
Submissions are sought in relation to the evidence available to support development of the plan in a range of areas, including overseas best practice in prevention, and the adequacy of the qualitative and quantitative evidence base around the prevalence of domestic and family violence. |
R&D Tax Incentive Amendments Senate Inquiry
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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
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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:
While the initial call for submissions has closed, the work of this Inquiry will be ongoing. The Committee is to present its final report on or before 30 June 2022. |