Education Research

No. 112 of 1970

An Act to assist Research in connexion with Education.

[Assented to 11 November 1970]

BE it enacted by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—

Short title.

1. This Act may be cited as the Education Research Act 1970.

Commencement.

2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

Definitions.

3. In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears—

“research” means systematic investigation in a particular field;

“research project” means a project for research in connexion with education, and includes such a project to be carried out, either wholly or in part, outside Australia;

“Territory” means a Territory forming part of the Commonwealth;

“training” includes training or instruction received in the course of carrying out research.

Grants to States for approved research projects.

4.—(1.) Subject to section 7 of this Act, the Minister may authorize the payment to a State, in respect of a research project approved by him, of such amounts as he determines.

(2.) A payment to a State under this section is by way of financial assistance to the State on the condition that the amount of the payment will be applied by the State, in a manner approved by the Minister, for the purposes of expenditure in connexion with the research project in respect of which it is paid.

Payments for approved research projects to institutions, &c, in a Territory.

5. The Minister may authorize the making, on behalf of the Commonwealth, of an agreement with—

(a) a body or institution established in a Territory; or

(b) a person resident, or ordinarily resident, in a Territory,

for or in relation to the carrying out by that body, institution or person of a research project approved by the Minister, and for the making of payments by the Commonwealth to that body, institution or person, for the purposes of the agreement, on the terms and conditions contained in the agreement.

Benefits to persons undertaking courses of training.

6.—(1.) Where the Minister considers that a person who wishes to engage in research in connexion with education would be assisted in so doing by a particular course of training, the Minister may approve the grant of assistance under this section to the person in connexion with that course of training.

(2.) An approval under the last preceding sub-section may relate to a course of training to be undertaken, either wholly or in part, outside Australia.

(3.) Where an approval is given under sub-section (1.) of this section, the Minister may authorize—

(a) the payment to the person during the period of the course of training of a living allowance at such rate, and subject to such conditions, as the Minister determines; and

(b) the payment to the person of, or the reimbursement of the person in respect of, the whole or a part of the fees, or of any other expenses, of the person in connexion with the course of training.

Moneys to be appropriated.

7. Payments in accordance with this Act are payable out of moneys appropriated by the Parliament for the purposes of this Act.

Annual report.

8.—(1.) The Minister shall, as soon as practicable after each thirtieth day of June, cause to be laid before each House of the Parliament a report on the operation of this Act during the year that ended on that date, including the following particulars:—

(a) a description of each research project approved by the Minister during that year;

(b) in respect of each research project so approved, the name of the person by whom, or the body or institution by which, the research project is to be carried out;

(c) the amount of the payments made during that year in respect of each research project, whether the project was approved during that year or during a preceding year;

(d) a description of each course of training in connexion with which a grant of assistance has been approved by the Minister during that year; and

(e) the rate and amount of any living allowance, and the amount of any payments in respect of fees or other expenses, paid during that year under each grant of assistance approved by the Minister, whether the grant was approved during that year or during a preceding year.

(2.) Each report shall include a statement of the principles and procedures followed by the Minister during the year to which the report relates in approving research projects.

Regulations,

9. The Governor-General may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, prescribing all matters necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act, and, in particular—

(a) making provision for or in relation to the furnishing of information by persons for the purposes of this Act; and

(b) providing for penalties, not exceeding a fine of One hundred dollars, for offences against the regulations.