Commonwealth Numbered Acts

EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION AND TRAINING ACT 1988 No. 80 of 1988 - SECT 27

27. (1) The functions of the Australian Research Council are:

   (a)  to make recommendations to the Minister with respect to:

        (i)    the distribution of resources allocated to any research scheme
               referred, in writing, to the Council by the Minister for the
               purposes of this section; and

        (ii)   the administrative and other costs directly associated with
               that scheme;

   (b)  to inquire into, and to provide information and advice to the Board
        with respect to, any matter referred to the Council by the Minister or
        the Board, being:

        (i)    a matter relating to national research priorities or the
               co-ordination of research policy and, in particular, but
               without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a matter
               relating to:

                (A)  the support to be given to fundamental research and to
                     research that will contribute directly to the economic or
                     social development of Australia;

                (B)  the development and implementation of research programs,
                     or the establishment and maintenance of special research
                     centres or key centres of teaching and research, by
                     institutions and the allocation of funds to achieve an
                     appropriate concentration of research effort in
                     institutions;

                (C)  measures (including the implementation of programs for
                     post-graduates and the grant of post-graduate
                     scholarships) aimed at enhancing the training of research
                     personnel; or

                (D)  measures aimed at improving interaction among the higher
                     education sector, the private research sector, the
                     government research sector and the industrial sector; or

        (ii)   any other matter on which information or advice may reasonably
               be required by the Minister or the Board in conjunction with
               information or advice in respect of a matter referred to in
               subparagraph (i);

   (c)  on its own motion, but subject to subsection (3), to inquire into, and
        provide information and advice to the Board with respect to, any
        matter referred to in subparagraph (b) (i) or (ii).

(2) Any recommendation made by the Council under paragraph (1) (a) shall be in
writing and the Council shall, as soon as practicable, send a copy of the
recommendation to the Board.

(3) The Council may perform a function under paragraph (1) (c) only if the
performance of that function does not prejudice the performance of its
functions under paragraphs (1) (a) or (b).