Australian Research Council Act 2001

The Minister may, on behalf of the Commonwealth and in writing, approve the making of a grant of financial assistance to an organisation for a research project in relation to a designated research program.

If the Minister does so, the Minister must specify in the approval the total amount of financial assistance to be paid to the organisation in relation to the approval.

The terms and conditions on which a grant of financial assistance is to be made to an organisation are to be set out in a funding agreement: see section 49.

The Minister must not give an approval under subsection (1) unless:

approved funding rules, to which the application for the approval relates, are in force; and

the eligibility criteria set out in those rules are satisfied in relation to the application; and

the application satisfies the requirements set out in those rules; and

the assessment process set out in those rules has been complied with in relation to the application.

The Minister may, on behalf of the Commonwealth and in writing, vary an approval under subsection (1).

If the Minister gives or varies an approval under this section, the Minister must give the organisation that is the subject of the approval a copy of the approval or variation before the end of the period of 21 days beginning on the day the approval is given or the variation is made.

If the Minister gives or varies an approval under this section, the Minister must give the CEO a copy of the approval or variation.

The Minister must refuse to give an approval under subsection (1) if the Minister considers that, for reasons relevant to the security, defence or international relations of Australia, the approval should be refused.

The Minister must give the Board written notice of a decision under subsection (6).

The Minister must cause a statement setting out the following to be tabled in each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the day on which the Minister gives an approval under this section:

the name of the organisation that is the subject of the approval;

a description of the designated research program the subject of the approval;

the total amount of financial assistance to be paid to the organisation in relation to the approval.