Pressure grows on education minister over “interference” in Australian Research Council awards
The Australian government is facing a surge of anger among researchers and demands for explanations from senior sector figures, after a ministerial intervention blocked the Australian Research Council from awarding six grants just before Christmas.
On Christmas Eve the sector learned through the media that six ARC Discovery Grants—all for humanities work—had been recommended for funding by the council but blocked by acting education minister Stuart Robert (pictured).