Introduction
Are you providing a submission as a representative of an organisation?
If yes, what is the name of your organisation?
Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
Findings - Theme 3 - Governance Issues
Findings 16 - 28:
Response
The Queensland University of Technology (QUT) is grateful for the opportunity to provide comment on the Preliminary Report on the Third Review of the Gene Technology Scheme, March 2018, as part of the third phase of consultation with stakeholders. We support the findings of the report and believe that feedback from stakeholders have been appropriately incorporated into the report. We look forward to action on a number of these findings, in particular harmonisation between the OGTR and other regulators, review of the level of oversight on dealings with a long history of being safe and future proofing of the scheme to encompass new technology as it emerges.
In a number of sections, the report notes that any regulatory changes would be subject to administrative, legal and financial considerations. We agree that current funding levels for the scheme are not likely to be sufficient for future regulatory activities. However, we strongly oppose the introduction of a cost recovery model. We believe this will have a huge impact on both the community’s trust in the Regulator, but also that of the researchers undertaking work with gene technology. This trust in the system is one of the key reasons why it works so well.
In a number of sections, the report notes that any regulatory changes would be subject to administrative, legal and financial considerations. We agree that current funding levels for the scheme are not likely to be sufficient for future regulatory activities. However, we strongly oppose the introduction of a cost recovery model. We believe this will have a huge impact on both the community’s trust in the Regulator, but also that of the researchers undertaking work with gene technology. This trust in the system is one of the key reasons why it works so well.