In contrast to most countries with developed research sectors, Australia does not have an independent authority with the power to address allegations of research misconduct. Instead, under the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research 2018 (the Code), the investigation of potentially dangerous or unethical research relies on self-regulation.

Australia’s research institutions, including its universities, have full discretion to decide whether or not to investigate allegations of research misconduct. Investigations that do take place can be entirely internal, their findings do not have to be made public, and the use of the term ‘research misconduct’ to describe major breaches of the Code is optional – in fact, the Code does not even clearly define what constitutes ‘research misconduct’. Appeals against investigation outcomes can only be made on procedural grounds through the Australian Research Integrity Commission (ARIC). Appeals based on merit or evidence cannot be considered. This approach has raised major concerns regarding conflicts of interest, inadequate penalties, lack of transparency, and flawed appeals processes.

This paper is Part 1 of a two-part series that examines research misconduct in Australia, and recommends how to fix it. This paper explores four well-documented examples of research integrity controversies that highlight the kind of issues an Australian research watchdog could consider examining:

1. a case at the University of NSW in which claims about data that led to clinical trials of a skin cancer drug had been misrepresented
2. findings of research misconduct by a researcher at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute – this case was referred to Queensland’s Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC)
3. concerns that a researcher at Swinburne University’s School of Engineering had falsified, duplicated and plagiarised results that led to the retraction of 96 publications
4. allegations that doctored images were used in articles based on research conducted at Macquarie University’s Centre for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Research.

Australia needs to establish a genuinely independent body tasked with ensuring that investigations into research misconduct are impartial and transparent, and that researchers involved in questionable practices face appropriate disciplinary measures.