US efforts to sway Australia’s research direction through thematic cuts to funding fall outside the remit of a federal government taskforce set up to counter foreign interference in universities, Senate Estimates has heard.
Government officials on Thursday ruled out any action by the University Foreign Interference Taskforce (UFIT), arguing the “overt” demands of the Trump administration do not meet its threshold.
It comes just days after Education minister Jason Clare poured cold water on suggestions that a 36-point questionnaire sent to Australian researchers this month amounted to foreign interference.
Want to know how this story ends?
Become a subscriber for complete access to all stories on InnovationAus.com and our daily newsletter.
Do you know more? Contact James Riley via Email.