EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Grant Guidelines made under section 60 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001
Grant Guidelines for schemes under the Linkage Program 2018— Linkage Projects for funding commencing in 2019.

Issued by the authority of the Minister for Education 
Subject:	Australian Research Council Act 2001— Grant Guidelines for schemes under the 			Linkage Program 2018— Linkage Projects for funding commencing in 2019
Authority
Section 60 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001 (the Act) provides that the Minister must approve ARC Grant Guidelines.  
Purpose and effect
The instrument is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislation Act 2003 (the LA). These Grant Guidelines relate to scheme funded under the Linkage Program 2018 of the National Competitive Grants Program. The Linkage Program supports the growth of research partnerships between university-based researchers and researchers in other sectors in Australia and overseas for projects that generate new knowledge, technologies and innovations. 
In particular, these rules relate to the Linkage Projects for funding commencing in 2019.

In accordance with subsection 59 (2) of the Act, the Grant Guidelines for schemes under the Grant Guidelines for schemes under the Linkage Program 2018— Linkage Projects for funding commencing in 2019 contain:
(a)	the eligibility criteria to be met in order for a proposal to be approved for financial assistance (including criteria relating to the kinds of organisation that may receive assistance and the kinds of research programme in respect of which assistance may be provided);
(b)	how to apply for financial assistance;
(c)	the assessment process for deciding which proposals will be recommended for approval;
(d)	the ways in which, and circumstances in which, a funding approval may be varied; and
(e)	any additional accountability requirements that the ARC thinks desirable.

In accordance with subsection 59 (4) of the Act, the Grant Guidelines for schemes under the Linkage Program 2018— Linkage Projects for funding commencing in 2019 take account of, and are consistent with:

(a)	the funding cap for the year, or each of the years, to which the rules apply; and 
(b)	the funding split determination for the year, or each of the years, to which the rules apply.

The Grant Guidelines for schemes under the Linkage Program 2018— Linkage Projects for funding commencing in 2019 were approved by the Minister for Education, Hon Dan Tehan MP, on 14 December 2018. 
Documents incorporated by reference                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
The following documents are incorporated by reference:
•	the ARC Research Integrity and Research Misconduct Policy (2016);
•	the National Principles of Intellectual Property Management for Publicly Funded Research (2017);
•	the ARC Open Access Policy (2017);
•	the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2018);
•	as applicable, the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007) (updated July 2018);
•	as applicable, NHMRC Ethical conduct in research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and communities: Guidelines for researchers and stakeholders (2018);
•	as applicable, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Guidelines for Ethical Research in Australian Indigenous Studies (2012);
•	as applicable, Australia Council for the Arts Protocols for Producing Indigenous Australian Music; Writing; Visual Arts; Media Arts; and Performing Arts (2007); and
•	as applicable, the Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes (2013). 

Commencement
The Grant Guidelines for the Linkage Program 2018— Linkage Projects for funding commencing in 2019 shall take effect upon registration on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.  

The provisions include;
These Guidelines contain information relating to the Grant Guidelines for the Linkage Program 2018— Linkage Projects for funding commencing in 2019, this includes: grant amount, eligibility, assessment criteria, application process and delivery or grant activities.
Consultation 
The ARC consulted with the Department of Finance and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and they have determined the Grant Guidelines as low risk.

Regulatory Impact Statement
These Grant Guidelines include a number of measures that reduce regulatory burden on the higher education sector. This includes coordination with the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to produce a timeline that minimises the burden on the sector in relation to preparation and submission of proposals

Statement of compatibility with human rights
Section 9(1) of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011 requires the rule maker in relation to a legislative instrument to which section 42 (disallowance) of the LA applies to cause a statement of compatibility to be prepared in respect of that legislative instrument. 
The legislative instrument does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms. It is compatible with human rights, as it does not raise any human rights issues.