Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

The Greens support this order for the production of documents, given the lack of transparency in the Morrison government and how they have politicised research grants. It is absolutely shameful. It wasn't too long ago that the Liberals inserted a jingoistic so-called national interest test for ARC grants. It wasn't too long ago that Senator Birmingham vetoed research grants that had gone through rigorous processes to be recommended for funding. During the election, the Morrison government used ARC grant announcements to try to gain electoral benefit. Academic research funding in Australia should be completely independent of the government of the day. That is why the Greens have a bill to take away the minister's unilateral veto of research grants. This political interference in research grants is despicable and it must stop.