Academics have warned the government it's putting critical research work at risk by tying infrastructure funding to its higher education overhaul.
Top researchers, university bosses and scientists have written to Prime Minister Tony Abbott to sound the alarm that many facilities are preparing to close.
Funding for the national collaborative research infrastructure strategy is linked to government legislation to deregulate university fees.
A second version of that bill will be debated in the Senate after March 17, but its future looks grim.
If NCRIS funding for the next financial year isn't confirmed within two months, the government will effectively be dooming expensive research facilities that would normally have decades of working life left.
"The damage to Australia's domestic and collaborative international research effort that will result from such closures is immense," the letter states.
Research could be set back by years.
Education Minister Christopher Pyne is well aware of the problem but blames Labor for not continuing NCRIS funding past the current financial year.
He says if the deregulation bill fails, the government can't afford to keep NCRIS funding going.
Share
