Academics condemn government?s ?shortsighted? decision to veto research grants

Leading Australian academics have criticised the federal government for "political and shortsighted" research funding decisions, amid accusations of interference in awarding grants.

Research on climate activism and China were among six projects - all in the humanities - recommended for funding by the Australian Research Council but vetoed last month by the acting education minister, Stuart Robert.

The decision, announced on Christmas Eve, angered many in the research community, and has been condemned by hundreds of writers, academics and intellectuals in two open letters.

A petition with nearly 1,500 signatories, including those of high-profile authors JM Coetzee, Michelle de Kretser, Alexis Wright and Amanda Lohrey, has called for Robert "to reinstate the defunded projects and commit to legislating the complete independence of the ARC from government interference and censorship".

"That two-thirds of the six censored grants should be in literary studies demonstrates a dismissive attitude to the value of the imagination and creativity," it said.

"The actions of the government reveal that it is committed to defunding Australia's literary culture by overriding academic autonomy and determining what kinds of knowledge can and cannot be pursued. This is especially ironic given its recent campaign to defend freedom of speech on Australia's campuses."

The petition continued: "All political parties should refrain from treating literary studies or the humanities more generally as pawns to be used for political purposes. Literature lasts longer than governments, longer than parties, longer than electoral cycles."