I have received an independent report from Mr Geoff Allen, Chairman of
The Allen Consulting Group, on the process for selecting the Biotechnology
Centre of Excellence.
The report was commissioned in response to concerns raised about the
integrity of the process which resulted in the National Stem Cell Centre
(NSCC) being selected as the Biotechnology Centre of Excellence.
Mr Allen concluded that the process used in selecting the NSCC "represents
the high end, or even marks new standards, of best practice in the integrity
of such processes".
Mr Allen found no significant deficiencies in the process and has recommended
that the grant to the NSCC proceed. I have accepted that recommendation.
I will table the report in
Parliament during the first sitting of 2003.
A grant of $43.55 million has been allocated, over five years, to establish
Australia';s first Biotechnology Centre of Excellence, with the criteria
for the preferred operator covering quality of research, governance, management
and business and international linkages.
The Centre for Stem Cells and Tissue Repair (now the National Stem Cell
Centre) was selected from 11 applicants to be the operator of the National
Biotechnology Centre of Excellence following a lengthy selection process.
Links:
* Review
of the National Biotechnology Centre of Excellence Selection Process
- Biotechnology of Australia website