We first pay respect to the spirit of Country and the past and present cultural knowledge holders responsible for maintaining and promoting the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander law, customs, and custodianship obligations.

14th February 2025

The Australian Sociological Association’s Statement on Recent Political Interference in Australian Research Council Grants

The Executive of The Australian Sociological Association (TASA) strongly opposes the recent decision by the Education Minister Jason Clare to direct the Australian Research Council (ARC) to undertake an investigation into the work of ARC Future Fellow Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah. While TASA is home to a diverse membership with differing political views, there is unwavering commitment to human rights, civil liberties and academic freedom.

Minister Clare’s decision appears to have been taken in response to a concerted media campaign against Dr Abdel-Fattah for her political views; and the Minister’s action flatly contradicts the commitment of the Albanese Government to cease ministerial interference in relation to ARC funding. This laudable commitment was widely supported by the Australian academic community, and it is deeply disappointing to see it now abandoned. Read on...