The government has blocked funding to 13 research projects for security reasons. What happens now?
The government has blocked funding to 13 research projects for security reasons. What happens now?
Publish Date: 2026-05-19 01:41:00
Source Domain: theconversation.com
Late last week, the Australian Research Council quietly made an announcement that sent shockwaves through the academic community.
The federal education minister, Jason Clare, blocked research funding to 13 projects “for reasons relevant to the security, defence or international relations of Australia”. This is more than double the number that have been vetoed on security grounds for any year since the research council was established in 2001.
Clare didn’t issue a press release about the matter and refused to go into more detail at a press conference a few days later.
This comes as Strider (an AI intelligence company) released a report showing more than 6,000 publications and collaborations between Australian researchers and institutions associated with China’s People’s Liberation Army since 2020.
Much of that research focused on high-risk technologies, like drones, artificial intelligence and radar and communications systems.
What is going on?
Why were the research grants refused?
Clare told reporters the grants were refused “for national interest reasons”. In a statement to parliament, he added the
decision has been taken to protect the integrity of Commonwealth funded research […]
He has not disclosed the researchers, institutions or risks which saw the projects being axed.
The Australian Research Council Act also requires the minister to deliver a statement to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security about the cancelled research. This will be classified and we shouldn’t expect any more details.
This has happened before
When the Australian Research Council was established in 2001, the education minister had the power to refuse funding for any reason.
Researchers despised the “ministerial veto” amid concerns of political interference into research.
Following a 2024 amendment, the only way the minister can veto a grant is for national security, defence or international relations reasons.
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