FASTS critical of ARC board sacking

The Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies (FASTS) has criticised a decision by the Minister for Education, Science and Training, Dr Brendan Nelson, to dissolve the board of the Australian Research Council from early next year.

Nelson said the ARC Board would go because its existence was "inconsistent with the executive management model" described by the recent Review of the Corporate Governance of Statutory Authorities and Office Holders, by John Uhrig.

The federal government commissioned Uhrig to review 170 statutory bodies and appointments under a wide range of ministerial portfolios.

Nelson said the ARC was one of the first bodies to be assessed, and Uhrig had found that the council's functions were best suited to Uhrig's executive management model.

"The revised arrangements will retain the ARC''s independence and expedite the ARC's funding processes," Nelson said in statement. "This will provide greater certainty to researchers about the future of the ir ARC funding, and allow the ARC to respond quickly and flexibly to emerging priorities.

Under its CEO, Dr Peter Hoj, the ARC would retain its "vital' peer review processes,and the College of Experts would continue to be a vital source of independent advice to government. Nelson said the ARC would remain a statutory agency, and would not return to his department.

But FASTS president Prof Snow Barlow said the ARC board had a broader role than the oversight of research grant processes.

"Currently the legislation allows the board to initiate its own inquiries," Barlow said. "It is imperative this power remains with the ARC and there be no dilution of expert review as the fundamental basis of determining research funding.

"Removal of the board will impact on the capacity of the ARC to provide independent, high-quality advice to government on research andfunding decisions. What formal mechanism will now apply for high end, independent, strategic advice for both the minister and the CEO?"